ABSTRACT Introduction The optimal venetoclax‐based treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL is still unknown, especially for high‐risk patients. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 98 patients with R/R CLL treated with venetoclax‐based regimens. Patients received venetoclax alone or in combination with rituximab (VenR), obinutuzumab (VenO), or a BTKi (primarily ibrutinib). Results Combination groups achieved higher complete remission (CR) and uMRD rates: VenO (CR 68%, uMRD 86%), VenR (CR 63%, uMRD 82%), Ven + BTKi (CR 43%, uMRD 70%), versus monotherapy (CR 51%, uMRD 67%). At a median 52‐month follow‐up, median PFS was superior in combination arms (76.6 months) compared to monotherapy (58.9 months, p = 0.04). Conclusion This analysis validates, in a real‐world academic cohort, that venetoclax‐based combination therapy, particularly with obinutuzumab or BTKi, yields higher rates of deep remission and superior PFS compared to monotherapy for R/R CLL.
Heyman et al. (Mon,) studied this question.