Outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients on novel agents in the US Veterans Health Administration System

Christopher R Frei1,2,3, Hannah Le4, Daniel McHugh4

  • 1South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Leukemia & Lymphoma
|February 11, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Adverse events (AEs) frequently led to treatment discontinuation for novel oral agents in US veterans with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Physician inexperience may have contributed to these outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Hematology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • US veterans exhibit elevated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) risk factors.
  • Novel oral agents represent a significant advancement in CLL treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the real-world effectiveness and tolerability of novel oral agents in a US veteran population with CLL.
  • To identify reasons for treatment discontinuation, particularly adverse events (AEs).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 1205 CLL patients from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) initiating novel oral agent therapy.
  • Analysis of discontinuation rates and reasons, focusing on AEs for ibrutinib, venetoclax, and idelalisib.

Main Results:

  • Discontinuation rates varied: 33% for first-line ibrutinib, 35% for relapsed/refractory (R/R) ibrutinib, 31% for R/R venetoclax, and 84% for idelalisib.
  • AEs were a primary reason for discontinuation across all agents, ranging from 41% for venetoclax to 64% for first-line ibrutinib.
  • Physician inexperience with these agents during their early introduction may have influenced outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Adverse events significantly impact treatment adherence and outcomes in CLL patients treated with novel oral agents.
  • Real-world data highlights the importance of managing AEs and suggests a learning curve for physicians using these therapies.

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