New trial tests a cancer drug combo for untreated blood cancer

This phase II trial tests the effect of venetoclax and obinutuzumab followed by epcoritamab in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that have not previously received treatment. Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. Obinutuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Epcoritamab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody, binds to a protein called CD3, which is found on T cells (a type of white blood cell). It also binds to a protein called CD20, which is found on B cells (another type of white blood cell) and some lymphoma cells. This may help the immune system kill cancer cells. The combination of venetoclax and obinutuzumab is a standard treatment for CLL/SLL and has been found to be safe and effective. Adding epcoritamab to standard treatment with venetoclax and obinutuzumab may lead to deeper and longer-lasting responses in patients with untreated CLL/SLL.