Vol 55, No 3 (2024)
Guidelines / Expert consensus
Published online: 2024-06-20
Expert opinion on use of acalabrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
DOI: 10.5603/ahp.100523
Acta Haematol Pol 2024;55(3):130-136.
Abstract
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) have become one of the most vital drugs in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). BTKis are currently a well-established therapy for treatment-naïve, as well as relapsed or refractory, cases. BTKis have been shown to be crucial in the treatment of high-risk CLL patients bearing TP53 aberrations or characterized by the unmutated status of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region (IGHV) gene. Ibrutinib was the first-in-class BTK inhibitor; however, despite its therapeutic potential, it is also characterized by specific adverse events, including hypertension, increased bleeding risk, cardiac toxicity, and skin changes. Although the next generation of BTKis was shown to be more specific, this adverse event profile is regarded currently as class-specific. In this review, we discuss the current status of acalabrutinib, a second-generation BTKi.
Keywords: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitoribrutinibacalabrutinibchronic lymphocytic leukemia
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