Novel CLL/SLL Agents Yielded Similar Outcomes Regardless of Race

New data from a database that tracks outcomes of chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in the post-ibrutinib era indicate that novel agents may be helping to overcome historical disparities in clinical outcomes seen with the disease.

Jacqueline Claudia Barrientos, MD, of the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, Florida, and colleagues presented outcomes from an analysis of data from informCLL, a large, US-based, prospective, observational registry of patients with CLL/CLL starting therapy in the era after the approval of ibrutinib.

They reported real-world patterns and outcomes by race and line of therapy in a poster presentation at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Data were analyzed from 1,459 patients who initiated US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy between October 2015 and June 2019. Of these, 105 patients were Black, 1,323 were White, and 31 were of other races.

Compared with White patients, Black patients treated with first-line therapy were younger and had worse performance status, more advanced disease, shorter time from diagnosis to first-line therapy, and lower rates of del (17p).

Across all races examined, ibrutinib was the most commonly used first-line therapy followed by chemoimmunotherapy. Freedom from next-line of therapy at 36 months was similar between Black and White patients treated with ibrutinib (72% and 75%) and among all treatments (73% and 72%).

There were similar or potentially improved outcomes among first-line ibrutinib-treated Black patients compared with White patients, the study showed. The estimated 36-month overall survival rate was similar among all-treated patients by race, with the highest overall survival rate observed in Black patients treated with ibrutinib (97% at 36 months).

A multivariable analysis in first-line treated patients found that male gender, poorer ECOG status, and increased comorbidity burden were independent predictors of decreased overall survival (OS). In contrast, race was not associated with OS.

No differences by race were identified for serious adverse events or those leading to treatment discontinuation.

Reference

Barrientos JC, et al. Real-world outcomes by race in patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL): final analysis results from the informCLL registry. Abstract #7536. Presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting; June 2-6, 2023; Chicago, Illinois.