Immunotherapy combo shows promise for Tough-to-Treat blood cancers

NCT ID NCT02332980

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial tested the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) alone or combined with idelalisib or ibrutinib in 65 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that had returned or stopped responding to treatment. The goal was to see if these treatments could shrink tumors or stop the cancer from growing. The study is now complete, and results will help determine if this approach is worth further study.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), idelalisib, ibrutinib

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for patients with hard-to-treat CLL or low-grade NHL that has returned or not responded to prior therapy.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase (Phase 2) completed trial with only 65 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. Immunotherapy can cause immune-related side effects, and the combination drugs have their own risks.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cell neoplasm B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma follicular lymphoma Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma MALT lymphoma marginal zone lymphoma nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma Richter transformation splenic marginal zone lymphoma Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Mayo Clinic in Arizona

    Scottsdale, Arizona, 85259, United States

  • Mayo Clinic in Rochester

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States