Study design
SEQUOIA is an international, phase 3, open-label, randomised study of BRUKINSA®▼ compared with bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) in patients with previously untreated CLL.1–3 The study comprises 3 cohorts, as shown in Figure 1.1–3
Cohorts 1 and 2 are complete, however Cohort 3 is ongoing.1–3
Figure 1. SEQUOIA study design.1–3
Patients
Patients had previously untreated CLL/SLL, ≥65 years of age or <65 years of age and unsuitable for chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR).1,4
Stratification
In Cohort 1, randomisation was stratified by age (<65 years versus ≥65 years), Binet stage (C versus A or B), immunoglobulin variable region heavy chain (IGHV) mutational status (mutated versus unmutated), and geographic region (North America versus Europe versus Asia-Pacific).1,4
Key baseline characteristics
- Cohort 1
- Cohort 2
- Cohort 3
The key baseline characteristics for Cohort 1 are summarised below in Table 1.
Table 1. SEQUOIA: Key baseline characteristics for Cohort 1 (patients without del[17p]).1
BRUKINSA (n=241) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=238) | |
---|---|---|
Median (IQR) age, years | 70 (66–75) | 70 (66–74) |
<65 | 45 (19%) | 46 (19%) |
≥65* | 196 (81%) | 192 (81%) |
Race or ethnicity, n (%) | ||
White | 221 (92%) | 206 (87%) |
Black | 4 (2%) | 4 (2%) |
Asian or Pacific Islander | 5 (2%) | 9 (4%) |
Not reported or unknown | 11 (5%) | 22 (9%) |
Binet stage,† n (%) | ||
A/B | 171 (71%) | 168 (71%) |
C | 70 (29%) | 70 (29%) |
Bulky disease ≥5 cm , n (%) | 69 (29%) | 73 (31%) |
Cytopenia at baseline,‡ n (%) | 102 (42%) | 109 (46%) |
del(17p) | 2 (1%)§ | 0 |
del(11q) | 43 (18%) | 46 (19%) |
del(13q) | 136 (56%) | 129 (54%) |
Trisomy 12 | 45 (19%) | 49 (21%) |
Unmutated IGHV gene | 125/234 (53%) | 121/231 (52%) |
No FISH abnormalities|| | 56 (23%) | 59 (25%) |
TP53 mutation | 15/232 (6%) | 13/223 (6%) |
Primary endpoint
In the SEQUOIA study, independent review committee (IRC)-assessed PFS in Cohort 1 (patients without del[17p]) was the primary endpoint and was met at the interim analysis.1,4 PFS was significantly longer with BRUKINSA compared with BR (Figure 2).1,4
At 24 months, the estimated PFS rate in Cohort 1 was 85.5% (95% CI: 80.1, 89.6) for BRUKINSA versus 69.5% (95% CI: 62.4, 75.5) for BR .1,4 After a median follow up of 26.2 months, the IRC determined that PFS was significantly improved with BRUKINSA versus BR (HR 0.42 [95% CI: 0.28 to 0.63]; two-sided p<0.0001; Figure 2).1,4
Figure 2. SEQUOIA: Kaplan-Meier estimates of IRC-assessed PFS for Cohort 1 (patients without del[17p]).1,4
Figure 3. SEQUOIA: IRC-assessed PFS across subgroups for BRUKINSA versus BR in Cohort 1 (patients without del[17p]).1
Key secondary endpoints
Investigator-assessed (IA) PFS for Cohorts 1 and 2 was a key secondary endpoint in SEQUOIA and was found to be consistent with IRC-assessed PFS.1 An updated analysis was conducted after a median follow up of 43.7 months for Cohort 1.5 Median IA-PFS was not reached in the BRUKINSA group compared with 42.2 months in the BR group group.5 Estimated 42-month PFS rates were 82.4% for BRUKINSA and 50.0% for BR.5 IA-PFS was significantly improved with BRUKINSA versus BR with mutated IGHV (2-sided, p=0.00033) and unmutated IGHV (2-sided p=0.0001).5 The median follow up for Cohort 2 was 47.9 months.5 Median IA-PFS for Cohort 2 was not reached and the estimated 42 month rate was 79.4%.5
ORR for Cohorts 1 and 2 was a key secondary endpoint in the SEQUOIA study.1,4
In Cohort 1 (patients without del[17p]), IRC-assessed ORR, was 94.6% (228/241; 95% CI: 91.0, 97.1) in the BRUKINSA group, and 85.3% (203/238; 95% CI: 80.1, 89.6) in the BR group.1,4 In the BRUKINSA group, 16 (7%) of 241 patients had a complete response, as assessed by IRC, versus 36 (15%) of 238 patients in the BR group.1
For Cohort 2 (patients with del[17p]) IRC-assessed ORR was 90.0% (99/110; 95% CI: 82.8, 94.9).1
Safety
- Cohort 1
- Cohort 2
A total of 93% (224/240) of patients in the BRUKINSA group and 94% (214/227) of patients in the BR group experienced an adverse event.6
- Serious adverse events occurred in 37% (88/240) of patients in the BRUKINSA group and 50% (113/227) of patients in the BR group1
- The most common adverse events occurring in the BRUKINSA group were contusion (19%) and upper respiratory tract infection (17%)6
Adverse events, common adverse events, and adverse events of special interest are shown in
tables 4–6.
Table 4. SEQUOIA Cohort 1 adverse events (n, %).1,6
Any adverse event | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
---|---|---|
Grade 1-2 | 98 (41) | 37 (16) |
Grade 3 | 87 (36) | 88 (39) |
Grade 4 | 28 (12) | 81 (36) |
Grade 5 | 11 (5) | 12 (5)‡ |
Serious | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 16 (7) | 12 (5) |
Grade 3 | 49 (20) | 70 (31) |
Grade 4 | 12 (5) | 19 (8) |
Grade 5 | 11 (5) | 12 (5) |
All bleeding adverse events§ | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 99 (41) | 21 (9) |
Grade 3 | 8 (3) | 3 (1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 1 (<1) |
Grade 5 | 1 (<1) | 0 |
All cardiac adverse events§ | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 24 (10) | 13 (6) |
Grade 3 | 10 (4) | 9 (4) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 1 (<1) |
Grade 5 | 2 (1) | 1 (<1) |
Dose reduction due to AEs | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
All Grades | 20 (3) | 85 (37) |
Discontinuation due to AEs | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
All Grades | 20 (8) | 31 (14) |
*One patient in the BRUKINSA group did not receive BRUKINSA and is not included in the safety analysis. †11 patients did not receive bendamustine + rituximab and are not included in the safety analysis. ‡Includes one patient who had a Grade 5 event (confusion) that began prior to, but ended, after the data cutoff. §Grouped analyses. Adapted from Tam CS, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2022, and Supplemntary appendix.1,6
Table 5. SEQUOIA Cohort 1 common adverse events.1
Contusion | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
---|---|---|
Grade 1-2 | 46 (19) | 8 (4) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Upper respiratory tract infection | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 39 (16) | 25 (11) |
Grade 3 | 2 (1) | 2 (1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Diarrhoea | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 32 (13) | 26 (12) |
Grade 3 | 2 (1) | 2 (1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 2 (1) |
Arthralgia | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 30 (13) | 19 (8) |
Grade 3 | 2 (1) | 1 (<1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Neutropenia | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 10 (4) | 13 (6) |
Grade 3 | 11 (5) | 50 (22) |
Grade 4 | 16 (7) | 66 (29) |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Hypertension | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 14 (6) | 9 (4) |
Grade 3 | 15 (6) | 11 (5) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Fatigue | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 25 (10) | 34 (15) |
Grade 3 | 3 (1) | 2 (1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Cough | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 27 (11) | 23 (10) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Headache | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 26 (11) | 17 (7) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Rash | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 26 (11) | 38 (17) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 6 (3) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Constipation | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 23 (10) | 43 (19) |
Grade 3 | 1 (<1) | 0 |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Nausea | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 24 (10) | 71 (31) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 3 (1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Back pain | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 21 (9) | 15 (7) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 1 (<1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Pyrexia | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 17 (7) | 52 (23) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 8 (4) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Vomiting | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 17 (7) | 30 (13) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 3 (1) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Pneumonia | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 8 (3) | 9 (4) |
Grade 3 | 4 (2) | 9 (4) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 1 (<1) |
Anaemia | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 10 (4) | 38 (17) |
Grade 3 | 1 (<1) | 4 (2) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Basal cell carcinoma | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 10 (4) | 3 (1) |
Grade 3 | 1 (<1) | 0 |
Grade 4 | 0 | 0 |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Thrombocytopenia | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 5 (2) | 14 (6) |
Grade 3 | 3 (1) | 10 (4) |
Grade 4 | 1 (<1) | 6 (3) |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Infusion-related reaction‡ | BRUKINSA (n=240*) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227†) |
Grade 1-2 | 1 (<1) | 37 (16) |
Grade 3 | 0 | 5 (2) |
Grade 4 | 0 | 1 (<1) |
Grade 5 | 0 | 0 |
Table 6. SEQUOIA Cohort 1 adverse events of interest.6
Patients without del(17p) | ||
---|---|---|
Any adverse event of Interest | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 207 (86.3) | 206 (90.7) |
Grade ≥3 | 96 (40.0) | 156 (68.7) |
Anaemia | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 11 (4.6) | 44 (19.4) |
Grade ≥3 | 1 (0.4) | 4 (1.8) |
Arthralgia | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 32 (13.3) | 20 (8.8) |
Grade ≥3 | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.4) |
Atrial fibrillation | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 8 (3.3) | 6 (2.6) |
Grade ≥3 | 1 (0.4) | 3 (1.3) |
Bleeding | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 108 (45.0) | 25 (11.0) |
Grade ≥3 | 9 (3.8) | 4 (1.8) |
Bruising | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 58 (24.2) | 9 (4.0) |
Grade ≥3 | 0 | 0 |
Major Bleeding | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 12 (5.0) | 4 (1.8) |
Grade ≥3 | 9 (3.8) | 4 (1.8) |
Minor Bleeding | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 68 (28.3) | 15 (6.6) |
Grade ≥3 | 0 | 0 |
Petechiae | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 18 (7.5) | 0 |
Grade ≥3 | 1 (0.4) | 0 |
Diarrhoea | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 33 (13.8) | 31 (13.7) |
Grade ≥3 | 2 (0.8) | 5 (2.2) |
Hypertension | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 34 (14.2) | 24 (10.6) |
Grade ≥3 | 15 (6.3) | 11 (4.8) |
Infections | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 149 (62.1) | 127 (55.9) |
Grade ≥3 | 39 (16.3) | 43 (18.9) |
Myalgia | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 9 (3.8) | 3 (1.3) |
Grade ≥3 | 0 | 0 |
Neutropenia | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 38 (15.8) | 129 (56.8) |
Grade ≥3 | 28 (11.7) | 116 (51.1) |
Other cancers | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 31 (12.9) | 20 (8.8) |
Grade ≥3 | 17 (7.1) | 7 (3.1) |
Dermatologic other cancers | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 16 (6.7) | 10 (4.4) |
Grade ≥3 | 2 (0.8) | 2 (0.9) |
Thrombocytopenia | BRUKINSA (n=240) | Bendamustine + rituximab (n=227) |
Any grade | 11 (4.6) | 40 (17.6) |
Grade ≥3 | 5 (2.1) | 18 (7.9) |
Further details of the SEQUOIA study
Abbreviations: CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; HR, hazard ratio; IA-PFS, investigator-assessed progression-free survival.