Improvements in Health-related Quality of Life and Symptoms in Patients With Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Final Results From the Phase II GIBB Study of the Combination of Obinutuzumab and Bendamustine

Background: We evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy in the GIBB single-arm, Phase II study of obinutuzumab plus bendamustine (BG).

Materials and methods: Patients received six 28-day cycles of BG and were followed for up to 27 months. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC QLQ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 16 (QLQ-CLL16) questionnaires. Scores were linear-transformed to a 100-point scale, with clinically meaningful responses defined as a ≥ 10-point change from baseline.

Results: The patient-reported outcome (PRO) population comprised 98 patients (68.4% male; median age 61 years). EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status improvements were noted at all follow-up visits and were clinically meaningful 2 to 3 months after induction and at 3- and 27-months' follow-up. Clinically meaningful improvements were also observed for the EORTC QLQ-C30 role functioning, emotional functioning, fatigue and insomnia scales and the EORTC QLQ-CLL16 fatigue, disease symptoms and future health worries scales. Global health status was maintained throughout follow-up, and no clinically relevant deterioration in other HRQoL parameters was observed.

Conclusion: PRO data from the GIBB study show improved overall HRQoL in patients with CLL who received first-line chemoimmunotherapy with BG.