The impact of fitness and dose intensity on clinical outcomes with venetoclax-obinutuzumab in CLL

O Othman Al-Sawaf M Moritz Fürstenau (1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) A Adam Giza (1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) S Sandra Robrecht (Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) J Julia von Tresckow (4Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Katholisches Klinikum Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany) A Anna-Maria Fink (University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) F Florian Simon (Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) E Eugen Tausch (Division of CLL, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany) C Christof Schneider (Division of CLL, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany) L Liliya Sivcheva (4First Department of Internal Medicine, Hristo Botev Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment, Vratsa, Bulgaria) A Anthony Schwarer (5Department of Haematology, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, Australia) J Javier Loscertales (Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid) R Robert Weinkove D Dirk Strumberg A Allanah Kilfoyle (10Haematology Department, Palmerston North Hospital, Palmerston North, New Zealand) G Gunnar Juliusson C Caspar da Cunha-Bang (Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen) T Thomas Illmer (Berufsausüebungsgemeinschaft, Gokos, Dresden, Germany) M Michael Gregor (Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland) P Patrick Thornton (Cancer Clinical Trials and Research Unit, Cancer Trials Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin) A Ann Janssens (Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium) T Tamar Tadmor (Bnai Zion Medical Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel) V Vesa Lindström (Department of Hematology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki) P Philipp Staber (19Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria) M Mark-David Levin (Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, the Netherlands) C Clemens-Martin Wendtner (Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Medical Clinic III, Munich, Germany) K Karl-Anton Kreuzer (Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) M Matthias Ritgen (Universitaetsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Medizinische Klinik II, Kiel, Germany) S Stephan Stilgenbauer (Division of CLL, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany) A Arnon P. Kater (Amsterdam University Medical Center location University of Amsterdam, Department of Hematology) C Carsten Niemann (24Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark) K Kirsten Fischer (Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) B Barbara Eichhorst (Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) M Michael Hallek (Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany)

Abstract

Abstract Venetoclax-obinutuzumab (Ven-Obi) is a standard first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The impact of age, fitness, and dose reductions remains unclear. We analyzed patients treated with Ven-Obi in the CLL13 and CLL14 trials, excluding patients with TP53 aberrations. Fitness was assessed using the cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS, >6) and creatinine clearance (≤70 mL/min). Among 410 patients (median age, 67 years), 55.7% were unfit (median age, 72 years) and 44.3% were fit (median age, 58 years). Overall response rate (ORR) was 89.5% in unfit and 96.1% in fit patients. Rates of undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) at <10–4 were 80.3% in unfit and 85.1% in fit patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) at 3 years was 86.4% vs 87.5% (hazard ratio, [HR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-1.81; P = .63). Overall survival at 3 years was 91.8% vs 96.9% (HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 0.90-4.55; P = .088). Adverse events included neutropenia (62.7% unfit, 56.9% fit), infusion-related-reactions (44.3% unfit, 56.9% fit), fatigue (15.8% unfit, 35.9% fit), and infections (57.5% unfit, 69.6% fit). Venetoclax dose reductions of <80% occurred in 39.6% of unfit and 17.6% of fit patients, with lower ORR (83.3% vs 98.2%) and uMRD rates (74.2% vs 87.9%) in those with reduced dose intensities, but similar PFS. Dose reductions of <70% were associated with shorter PFS. Overall, this study shows comparable efficacy and toxicity of Ven-Obi in fit and unfit patients with CLL.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 146, Issue 20
Published November 13, 2025
Pages 2406-2416
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (34)

O

Othman Al-Sawaf

M

Moritz Fürstenau

1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

A

Adam Giza

1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

S

Sandra Robrecht

Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

J

Julia von Tresckow

4Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Katholisches Klinikum Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

A

Anna-Maria Fink

University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

F

Florian Simon

Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

E

Eugen Tausch

Division of CLL, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

C

Christof Schneider

Division of CLL, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

L

Liliya Sivcheva

4First Department of Internal Medicine, Hristo Botev Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment, Vratsa, Bulgaria

A

Anthony Schwarer

5Department of Haematology, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

J

Javier Loscertales

Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid

R

Robert Weinkove

D

Dirk Strumberg

A

Allanah Kilfoyle

10Haematology Department, Palmerston North Hospital, Palmerston North, New Zealand

G

Gunnar Juliusson

C

Caspar da Cunha-Bang

Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen

T

Thomas Illmer

Berufsausüebungsgemeinschaft, Gokos, Dresden, Germany

M

Michael Gregor

Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

P

Patrick Thornton

Cancer Clinical Trials and Research Unit, Cancer Trials Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin

A

Ann Janssens

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

T

Tamar Tadmor

Bnai Zion Medical Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel

V

Vesa Lindström

Department of Hematology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki

P

Philipp Staber

19Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

M

Mark-David Levin

Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, the Netherlands

C

Clemens-Martin Wendtner

Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Medical Clinic III, Munich, Germany

K

Karl-Anton Kreuzer

Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

M

Matthias Ritgen

Universitaetsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Medizinische Klinik II, Kiel, Germany

S

Stephan Stilgenbauer

Division of CLL, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

A

Arnon P. Kater

Amsterdam University Medical Center location University of Amsterdam, Department of Hematology

C

Carsten Niemann

24Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

K

Kirsten Fischer

Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

B

Barbara Eichhorst

Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

M

Michael Hallek

Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany