Ibrutinib impairs the phagocytosis of rituximab-coated leukemic cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients by human macrophages

Ibrutinib is an oral irreversible inhibitor of the bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) which has shown promising efficacy and excellent tolerability in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other B-cell malignancies. 1 Ibrutinib inhibits BCR signaling, impairs chemokine-mediated adhesion and migration, and induces moderate levels of apoptosis on CLL cells. 2,3 It also reduces TCR downstream activation on Th2 cells by targeting another kinase, the interleukin-2-inducible kinase (Itk). The combination