Ibrutinib’s efficacy in damping down inflammatory pathways that lead to cGVHD does not come at the expense of other immune function, however. Immune memory and Th 1 cells were not affected by ibrutinib administration in the study population, Dr. Sahaf said. Comparing 33 ibrutinib-receiving patients who received intravenous immune globulin with three patients who did not, the investigators saw no differences in relative antibody concentrations for tetanus or Epstein-Barr virus between the two groups.
“Protective antibodies against tetanus and Epstein-Barr virus persist following ibrutinib therapy,” Dr. Sahaf said.
Next up is the iNTEGRATE trial (NCT02959944), a phase 3 study that will test ibrutinib plus prednisone as first-line therapy for cGVHD, Dr. Sahaf said. The research team will continue its extensive proteomics work in this study as well, she said.
Dr. Sahaf reported research funding from Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie company, which markets ibrutinib. She also reported having patent, royalty, or intellectual property arrangements with Stanford University.
SOURCE: Sahaf, B et al. BMT Tandem Meetings, Abstract 2.