Practical management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with acalabrutinib

Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been transformed in the past two decades. The introduction of targeted therapies has improved patient outcomes and the deliverability of effective therapies. Making the best use of the next wave of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors requires an understanding of the nuances that separate the drugs in this class of agents. This paper reviews the newer BTK inhibitors and provides practical guidance on the management of CLL using acalabrutinib. Acalabrutinib is a safe and efficacious BTKi in the treatment of CLL. While some side effects appear to be an “on-target” effect of BTK inhibition, the selectivity of second-generation covalent BTK inhibitors such as acalabrutinib may result in a favorable safety profile due to less off-target kinase inhibition. Acalabrutinib represents a well-tolerated and effective alternative to ibrutinib in the management of CLL.