Dr. Karmali on Next Steps of Research Regarding Ibrutinib Maintenance in MCL

Video

Reem Karmali, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses the next steps for research regarding the use of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) as maintenance therapy in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Reem Karmali, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses the next steps for research regarding the use of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) as maintenance therapy in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

A study that examined ibrutinib maintenance following intensive induction therapy showed that the approach is feasible and the toxicities are manageable, says Karmali. However, longer follow-up data are needed, as well as analysis of patients’ minimal residual disease (MRD) status. The primary objective of the study was to look at efficacy, which was assessed according to the rate of 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates.

However, an exploratory analysis looked at MRD status and an IgH polymerase chain reaction, based methodology. Investigators believe that MRD will provide better insight into whether patients can achieve deeper responses with ibrutinib maintenance. With this analysis, researchers hope to show a correlation between MRD status and PFS and overall survival that would warrant further exploration of ibrutinib maintenance, concludes Karmali.

Newsletter

Stay at the forefront of cutting-edge science with CGT—your direct line to expert insights, breakthrough data, and real-time coverage of the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy.

Recent Videos
Nathan Yozwiak, PhD, the head of research at the GCTI
Derek Jackson, BS, MA, the vice president of cell & gene therapy product development at Pacira, and Kilian Guse, PhD, the vice president of genetic medicine platforms at Pacira
Derek Jackson, BS, MA, the vice president of cell & gene therapy product development at Pacira
Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD
Tami John, MD
Tami John, MD
Tami John, MD
Matthew Ku, MBBS, FRACP, RACP, FRCPA/RCPA, PhD, an associate professor and the lymphoma stream lead at St Vincent’s Hospital
Saurabh Dahiya, MD, FACP, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine; as well as clinical director of Cancer Cell Therapy in the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy at Stanford Medicine
Shahzad Raza, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.