A major UK clinical trial has found that combining two targeted drugs leads to better survival rates and fewer side effects than chemotherapy for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The Flair trial involved 786 people with previously untreated CLL, treated across 96 cancer centres in the UK.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive standard chemotherapy, a single targeted drug (ibrutinib), or a combination of two targeted therapies – ibrutinib and venetoclax. Treatment was guided by personalised blood tests.
After five years, the dual-drug group had a 94% rate of survival without disease progression, compared to 79% for those on ibrutinib alone and 58% for those who received chemotherapy.
The trial also found that two years into treatment, 66% of patients taking the drug combination had no detectable cancer in their bone marrow. This was significantly higher than those who received chemotherapy (48%) or ibrutinib alone.
Ibrutinib blocks cancer growth by stopping signals used by cancer cells to divide and grow. Venetoclax targets a protein found in CLL cells that helps them survive. The combined-drug treatment was better tolerated, with fewer side effects linked to chemotherapy.
The study’s lead investigator said the trial marks a milestone in personalised medicine, allowing for tailored individualised treatment based on how well the cancer responds. Around 4,000 people are diagnosed with CLL each year in the UK, and the results of this trial offer hope for new treatment options.
Source: https://www.htworld.co.uk/news/life-sciences/chemotherapy-free-treatment-shown-to-improve-outcomes-in-uk-wide-leukaemia-trial-pat25