CLL12: a positive answer to a poorly phrased question comment

In this issue of Blood, Langerbeins et al on behalf of the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG) report positive results of the CLL12 trial investigating the ability of ibrutinib to prolong event-free survival (EFS) compared with placebo in patients with treatment-naive asymptomatic early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) without an indication for treatment.(1) Based on the current International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) and other guidelines, disease-directed treatment of CLL is only indicated for symptomatic or active disease.(2) Up to 30% of patients diagnosed with CLL may never require therapy during their lifetime, and previous trials of chemo(immuno)therapy did not demonstrate any long-term benefit from early treatment and were associated with increased toxicity.(3-5)

Automated summary

A recent study investigated the use of ibrutinib in patients with early-stage CLL and found that it did not improve event-free survival compared to placebo.