This phase II trial tests the effect of venetoclax in combination with standard of care (SOC) zanubrutinib in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. Zanubrutinib blocks a protein called Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK), which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Giving venetoclax in combination with SOC zanubrutinib may be safe and tolerable and may reduce the number of cancer cells that remain in the body in patients with CLL or SLL that have not previously received treatment or at least two years have passed since completing initial treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:
Diagnosis of CLL/SLL meeting criteria established in International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) 2018 criteria
Age ≥ 18 years
Indications for treatment as defined by the iwCLL 2018 Guidelines
Received prior treatment or not depending on cohort
Frontline cohort:
Second line cohort:
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance 0-2
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1000/mm^3 (independent of growth factor support at screening, unless cytopenias are due to marrow involvement by CLL/SLL)
Platelets > 30,000/mm^3 at screening (independent of growth factor support at screening, unless cytopenias are due to marrow involvement by CLL/SLL)
Hemoglobin > 7 g/dL (independent of growth factor support at screening, unless cytopenias are due to marrow involvement by CLL/SLL)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 5 x ULN with documented liver involvement
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN or ≤ 3 x ULN with documented liver involvement and/or Gilbert's disease
Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 50 according to modified Cockcroft-Gault equation
Willing and able to complete study activities and treatment
Willing and capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in the protocol
Willingness of men and women of reproductive potential and their partners to observe conventional and highly effective or acceptable birth control methods for the duration of treatment and for 1 week following the last dose of zanubrutinib or 30 days following the last dose of venetoclax, whichever is longer
Exclusion Criteria:
Second line arm only: Patients who progressed per iwCLL 2018 criteria on therapy or within two years of completing time-limited, venetoclax based treatment
Frontline arm only: Patients with deletion 17p and/or TP53 mutation
Active Richter's transformation
Prior zanubrutinib exposure
Known hypersensitivity to any of the excipients of zanubrutinib or venetoclax
Need for treatment with warfarin or other vitamin K antagonist during study treatment
History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months
Known bleeding diathesis
Inability to take pills or oral medications
Clinically significant active malabsorption syndrome or other condition likely to affect gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of either zanubrutinib or venetoclax
Active second malignancy unless in remission and with life expectancy > 2 years. Adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast or prostate cancer that is expected to be cured is allowed. Non-melanoma skin cancers are permitted if adequately treated
Psychiatric illness, or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
Active uncontrolled auto-immune cytopenia (e.g., autoimmune hemolytic anemia [AIHA], idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura [ITP]) for which new therapy was introduced or existing therapy was escalated within the 4 weeks prior to study enrollment to maintain adequate blood counts
Evidence of other clinically significant uncontrolled condition(s) including but not limited to, uncontrolled systemic bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection (except for fungal nail infection), or other clinically significant active disease process which in the opinion of the investigator may pose a risk for patient participation. Screening for chronic conditions is not required
Significant cardiovascular disease defined as:
Unstable angina or acute coronary syndrome within the past 2 months
History of myocardial infarction within 3 months
Documented left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by any method of ≤ 40% within 12 months
≥ grade 3 New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system of heart failure
Uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias
Prolongation of the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTcF) > 470 msec. QTcF is calculated using Fridericia's Formula (QTcF)
Known active hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection based on criteria below:
Treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A inhibitor or inducer and/or strong P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors within 3 days of starting and during study treatment
Patients may not plan to consume grapefruit or grapefruit products, Seville oranges or products from Seville oranges, or star fruit
Pregnancy, lactation, or plan to breastfeed during treatment with or within 2 weeks of the last dose of zanubrutinib or 1 month of the last dose of venetoclax
Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to screening
Vaccination with live vaccine within 28 days of screening
Currently incarcerated
Current central nervous system involvement by CLL/SLL
OSUCCCClinicaltrials@osumc.edu
Patients receive SOC zanubrutinib PO QD or BID per physician discretion on days 1-28 of each cycle. Starting with cycle 4, patients also receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-28 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days for up to 15 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, and CT or MRI throughout the study.
Patients receive SOC zanubrutinib PO QD or BID per physician discretion on days 1-28 of each cycle. Starting with cycle 4, patients also receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-28 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days for up to 27 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, and CT or MRI throughout the study.
Zanubrutinib and Venetoclax in CLL (ZANU-VEN)
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Pirtobrutinib (LOXO-305) and Venetoclax for the Treatment of Patients With CLL or SLL Resistant to Covalent BTKi
A Randomized Phase II Study Of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor With Or Without Venetoclax In Veterans With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
Zanubrutinib and Venetoclax as Initial Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) With Response-based Obinutuzumab
Venetoclax and Ibrutinib in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory CLL or SLL
Assessing the Ability of Combination Treatment With Venetoclax to Permit Time Limited Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Ibrutinib Plus Venetoclax in Subjects With Treatment-naive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia /Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL)