CLL-137 SEQUOIA: Results of a Phase 3 Randomized Study of Zanubrutinib Versus Bendamustine + Rituximab (BR) in Patients With Treatment-Naïve (TN) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/ SLL)

Brad S. Kahl, Krzysztof Giannopoulos, Wojciech Jurczak, Martin Šimkovič, Mazyar Shadman, Anders Österborg, Luca Laurenti, Patricia Walker, Stephen Opat, Henry Chan, Hanna Ciepluch, Richard Greil, Monica Tani, Marek Trnéný, Danielle M. Brander, Ian W. Flinn, Sebastian Grosicki, Emma Verner, Jennifer R. Brown, Paolo GhiaJianyong Li, Tian Tian, Lei Zhou, Carol Marimpietri, Jason C. Paik, Aileen Cohen, Tadeusz Robak, Peter Hillmen, Constantine S. Tam

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context: The Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, zanubrutinib, was designed for high BTK specificity and minimal toxicity. SEQUOIA (NCT03336333) is a global, open-label, randomized phase 3 study in treatment-naïve patients with CLL/SLL without del(17p) who were unsuitable for fludarabine/cyclophosphamide/rituximab. Design: Patients were randomized to receive zanubrutinib (160 mg twice daily) or bendamustine (day 1-2: 90 mg/m2) and rituximab (cycle 1: 375 mg/m2; cycles 2-6: 500 mg/m2); stratification factors were age (<65 years vs ≥65 years), Binet Stage, IGHV mutation, and geographic region. Main Outcome Measures: Primary endpoint was an independent review committee (IRC)-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included investigator-assessed (INV) PFS, overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: From October 31, 2017, to July 22, 2019, 479 patients were enrolled (zanubrutinib=241; BR=238). Baseline characteristics (zanubrutinib vs BR): median age, 70.0 years versus 70.0 years; unmutated IGHV, 53.4% versus 52.4%; del(11q), 17.8% versus 19.3%. With median follow-up of 26.2 months, PFS was significantly prolonged with zanubrutinib by IRC (HR 0.42; 2-sided P<.0001) and INV (HR 0.42; 2-sided P=.0001). Zanubrutinib treatment benefit occurred across age, Binet stage, bulky disease, del(11q) status, and unmutated IGHV (HR 0.24; 2-sided P<.0001), but not mutated IGHV (HR 0.67; 2-sided P=.1858). For zanubrutinib versus BR, 24-month PFS-IRC=85.5% versus 69.5%; ORR-IRC=94.6% versus 85.3%; complete response rate=6.6% versus 15.1%; ORR-INV=97.5% versus 88.7%; and 24-month OS=94.3% versus 94.6%. Select adverse event (AE) rates (zanubrutinib vs BR): atrial fibrillation (3.3% vs 2.6%), bleeding (45.0% vs 11.0%), hypertension (14.2% vs 10.6%), infection (62.1% vs 55.9%), and neutropenia (15.8% vs 56.8%). Treatment discontinuation due to AEs (zanubrutinib vs BR)=20 patients (8.3%) versus 31 patients (13.7%); AEs leading to death=11 patients (4.6%) versus 11 patients (4.8%). No sudden deaths occurred. Conclusions: In summary, zanubrutinib significantly improved PFS-IRC versus BR and was well tolerated, supporting the potential utility of frontline zanubrutinib in treatment-naïve CLL/SLL.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S269-S270
JournalClinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia
Volume22
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

Keywords

  • BGB-3111-304
  • BTK inhibitor
  • CLL
  • NCT03336333
  • Phase III

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