iwCLL 2021 | Advances & challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of Richter’s syndrome
Romain Guièze, MD, of Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France, discusses the obstacles and progress of research into Richter’s syndrome, a rare complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) associated with poor prognosis. Prof. Guièze explains that current treatments are not efficient in patients with Richter’s syndrome and comments on the use of liquid biopsies to detect Richter’s syndrome molecular lesions in patients with CLL. Prof. Guièze also shares the preliminary results from the BLINART study (NCT03931642) investigating the bispecific T-cell engaging (BiTE) antibody blinatumomab after R-CHOP debulking therapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, and the monoclonal antibody rituximab in patients with Richter’s transformation. Prof. Guièze reports that the response rate for patients receiving blinatumomab was 44%, with half of participants in complete remission. This interview took place at the 19th International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) Biennial Meeting, held virtually in 2021.
Disclosures
Romain Guièze, MD, discloses links to Janssen, Roche, Amgen, Astrazeneca and Abbvie.
