Ibrutinib–rituximab treatment previously untreated CLL(Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) or SLL
In this randomized trial involving patients 70 years of age or younger who had previously untreated CLL or SLL and did not have chromosome 17p13 deletion, ibrutinib–rituximab treatment was superior to chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine–cyclophosphamide–rituximab with respect to progression-free survival and overall survival. Chemoimmunotherapy led to a higher frequency of complete response and rendered more patients MRD-negative than did ibrutinib–rituximab therapy. Nonetheless, the risk of progression or death was 65% lower and the risk of death was 83% lower with ibrutinib–rituximab than with chemoimmunotherapy. The proportion of patients who had an adverse event of grade 3 or higher was similar in the two groups.