Clinical trials

This phase II trial compares the effect of initial vaccination (PCV20 followed by PSV23) with yearly vaccinations of PSV23 to the standard 5 year vaccination in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. At present chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients are poorly protected by anti-pneumococcal vaccination. Current vaccination schedule for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients is based on general recommendations in immunocompromised patients (initial vaccination with PCV13 followed by one dose of PSV23 after an interval of two months, followed by revaccination at 5 years). Giving patients frequent immunization as compared to 5 year immunization may result in higher protective titers in patients.

This phase II trial tests how well acalabrutinib works in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and evaluates how treatment with acalabrutinib affects heart function. Acalabrutinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It blocks a protein called BTK, which is present on B-cell (a type of white blood cells) cancers at abnormal levels. This may help keep cancer cells from growing and spreading. CLL/SLL patients treated with a different BTK inhibitor called ibrutinib often experience cardiac side effects, leading to discontinuation of life-saving therapy. Treatment with acalabrutinib after discontinuing, or even before starting, treatment with ibrutinib may reverse or prevent cardiac side effects and be an effective treatment option for patients with CLL/SLL.