Obinutuzumab: The more the merrier?

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Byrd et al present data from a randomized phase 2 study in which 78 previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) received 8 cycles of either 1000 mg (the current standard dose) or 2000 mg of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) obinutuzumab.1 The authors report a higher overall response rate with higher doses of obinutuzumab (67% vs 49%), but there was no significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) between groups.