Jeff P.Sharman, MD, director of research at Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and medical director of hematology research for The US Oncology Network, discusses the safety profile of acalabrutinib (Calquence) that was demonstrated inthe phase III ELEVATE-TN trial(NCT02475681). The trial evaluated acalabrutinib as a single agent or in combination with obinutuzumab (Gazyva) versus obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil in patients with treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

According to the findings that were presented at the 2019 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, approximately 30% of patients in the acalabrutinib arm developed a headache. However, this was a relatively short-term phenomenon that lasted a few days and was reasonably short-lived, says Sharman. The headache could be controlled by hydration and caffeine, and a few patients required ibuprofen or acetaminophen.