Targeting CD20 takes the backseat in CLL

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.1 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.