Expert review of hematology
-
Drugs that selectively inhibit Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), such as the new orally administered agent ibrutinib, are currently under investigation for the treatment of several types of B-cell malignancies. In this article, the authors present results of a Phase Ib/II study of ibrutinib in 85 patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). ⋯ In addition, the use of an effective oral agent like ibrutinib whose efficacy does not translate into a high burden of toxicity should be considered in choosing therapy in the elderly. A challenging issue with ibrutinib is the possibility of overcoming chemotherapy in the treatment of CLL.