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Comment
. 2019 Mar 7;133(10):1003-1004.
doi: 10.1182/blood-2019-01-892695.

Targeting CD20 takes the backseat in CLL

Affiliations
Comment

Targeting CD20 takes the backseat in CLL

John C Byrd. Blood. .

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Burger and colleagues report results from a randomized phase 2 study combining rituximab and ibrutinib vs ibrutinib alone in high-risk, untreated, and previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. This well-performed study provides clear guidance to the field of CLL that, unlike chemotherapy, rituximab addition to ibrutinib does not improve progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) as compared with ibrutinib alone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: J.C.B. has received research funding from Acerta Pharma, Genentech, Janssen, Verestem, and Pharmacyclics. He is or has been a consultant (<5000 dollars) for Acerta Pharma, Pharmacyclics, Jazz pharmaceuticals, Gilead Pharmaceuticals, and Verastem Pharmaceutics for advice on drug development.

Comment on

References

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