A decade of ibrutinib for CLL with and without <i>TP53</i> aberration: final report on an investigator-sponsored phase 2 study

A Andy Itsara (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) V Victoria M. Rogness (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) L Laura Samples (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) C Constance M. Yuan (2Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) H Hao-Wei Wang I Inhye E. Ahn (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) M Mohammed Z. H. Farooqui (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) X Xin Tian (Wuya College of Innovation) C Clare Sun (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) E Emily Tomasulo (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) S Susan Soto (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) J Jeanine Superata (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) L Larisa Bezkorovaynaya (6Office of the Clinical Director, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) T Thomas E. Hughes P Pia Nierman (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) A Adrian Wiestner (1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD)

Abstract

Abstract Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors improve outcomes for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Long-term data with continuous therapy are limited. With a median follow-up of 10.0 years, we report final results on 84 patients with TP53 aberrations (deletion of chromosomal arm 17p or TP53 mutation) or ≥65 years of age treated with 420 mg of single-agent ibrutinib daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. A total of 52 (61.9%) patients were previously untreated; 56 (66.7%) had unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region; and 53 (63.1%) had TP53 aberrations, including 34 treatment naïve patients. As of 31July 2024, 9 (10.7%) patients continued ibrutinib, 39 (46.4%) discontinued ibrutinib for progressive disease, 31 (36.9%) for adverse events, and 5 (5.9%) withdrew consent. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.2 years; median overall survival (OS) was not reached. In patients with and without TP53 aberrations, median PFS was 5.6 years and not reached, and 10-year OS was 51.3% and 75.3%, respectively. The estimated 10-year PFS and OS for patients with TP53-aberrant CLL treated in first line was 38.6% and 65.7%, respectively. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was quantified by peripheral blood flow cytometry annually. Undetectable MRD (uMRD; at 10−4) was achieved in 13 (15.5%) patients after a median of 5 years. Twelve patients maintained uMRD, the longest observation ongoing at 8.0 years. Seventeen (42.5%) patients with best response of high MRD (&amp;gt;10−2) remained progression-free for &amp;gt;5 years. These results highlight durable benefits and deepening responses with ibrutinib, including in high-risk CLL. Whether patients maintaining uMRD for years can safely discontinue therapy should be assessed prospectively. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01500733.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 147, Issue 15
Published April 09, 2026
Pages 1702-1712
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (16)

A

Andy Itsara

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

V

Victoria M. Rogness

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

L

Laura Samples

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

C

Constance M. Yuan

2Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

H

Hao-Wei Wang

I

Inhye E. Ahn

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

M

Mohammed Z. H. Farooqui

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

X

Xin Tian

Wuya College of Innovation

C

Clare Sun

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

E

Emily Tomasulo

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

S

Susan Soto

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

J

Jeanine Superata

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

L

Larisa Bezkorovaynaya

6Office of the Clinical Director, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

T

Thomas E. Hughes

P

Pia Nierman

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

A

Adrian Wiestner

1Laboratory of Lymphoid Malignancies, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD