The AVENUE-2 Trial: Acalabrutinib and Venetoclax for Refractory or Recurrent CLL/SLL
This study, called AVENUE-2, is testing a combination of two drugs, acalabrutinib and venetoclax, for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that has either not responded to previous treatments (refractory) or has returned (recurrent). Acalabrutinib works by blocking enzymes that help cancer cells grow, while venetoclax is a chemotherapy drug that stops cancer cells from growing and spreading. Researchers hope that using these two drugs together will kill more cancer cells. The study aims to see how many people achieve undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD), meaning very few cancer cells are left, after about two years of treatment. This study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 20 participants.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive specific treatments. It is a Phase II trial, which typically involves a smaller number of participants to further evaluate safety and effectiveness.
- What's involved
- You would take acalabrutinib twice daily and venetoclax once daily for up to 26 cycles (about two years), with venetoclax added after the first three cycles. You will also have blood samples, bone marrow aspirations and biopsies, and CT or MRI scans.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- After treatment, you will be followed every 12 weeks and then annually for 10 years.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
NCT04941716
Acalabrutinib in Combination With Venetoclax for the Treatment of Refractory or Recurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, The AVENUE-2 Trial
Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatmentFred Hutchinson Cancer CenterInvestigator-initiated
~20 participants
Updated 2026-05-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:AcalabrutinibVenetoclaxBiospecimen CollectionBone Marrow AspirationBone Marrow BiopsyComputed Tomography
At a glance
Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Rate of undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD)
Measured over At the end of treatment (26 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days)
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesWashington1
Study leadership
- Mazyar Shadman · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
Who to contact
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?
Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion
Men and women \>= 18 years of age.
Diagnosis of CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that meets the published diagnostic criteria.
Active disease per IWCLL 2018 criteria that require treatment. At least one of the following:
Evidence of progressive marrow failure as manifested by the development of, or worsening of, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia
Massive (\> 6 cm below left costal margin), progressive, or symptomatic splenomegaly
Massive nodes (\> 10 cm in longest diameter), or progressive or symptomatic lymphadenopathy
Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of \> 50% over a 2-month period or lymphocyte-doubling time of \< 6 months. Lymphocyte-doubling time may be obtained by linear regression extrapolation of absolute lymphocyte counts obtained at intervals of 2 weeks over an observation period of 2 to 3 months. In patients with initial blood lymphocyte counts of \< 30 x 109/L lymphocyte-doubling time should not be used as a single parameter to define treatment indication. In addition, factors contributing to lymphocytosis or lymphadenopathy other than CLL/SLL (e.g., infection) should be excluded.
Constitutional symptoms, defined as any 1 or more of the following disease-related symptoms or signs
Unintentional weight loss of \> 10% within the previous 6 months
Significant fatigue
Fevers \> 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit (F) or 38 degrees Celsius (C) for 2 weeks without other evidence of infection
Night sweats for \> 1 month without evidence of infection
Relapsed or refractory to at least 1 prior systemic therapy for CLL/SLL. A line of therapy is defined as completing at least 2 cycles of treatment of standard regimen according to current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, or of an investigational regimen on a clinical trial.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 750 cells/microliter (0.75 x 10\^9/L); ANC \>= 500 cells/microliter (0.50 x 10\^9/L) in subjects with documented bone marrow involvement of CLL (independent of growth factor or transfusion support within 1 week of screening).
Hemoglobin \>= 10 g/dL (independent of growth factor or transfusion support within 1 week of screening).
Platelet count \>= 50,000 cells/microliter (50 x 10\^9/L); platelet count \>= 25,000 cells/microliter (25 x 10\^9/L) in subjects with documented bone marrow involvement of CLL (independent of growth factor or transfusion support within 1 week of screening).
Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
Total bilirubin =\< 2 x ULN, unless directly attributable to Gilbert's syndrome
Estimated creatinine clearance of \>= 50 mL/min
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2
Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who are sexually active must use highly effective methods of contraception during treatment and for 30 days after the last dose of acalabrutinib or venetoclax, whichever occurs later
Willing and able to participate in all required evaluations and procedures in this study protocol, including swallowing capsules or tablets without difficulty
Ability to understand the purpose and the risks of the study and provide signed and dated informed consent and authorization to use protected health information
Exclusion
Known prolymphocytic leukemia or history of, or currently suspected, Richter's transformation (biopsy based on clinical suspicion may be needed to rule out transformation)
Prior disease progression while on a BTK inhibitor
Prior disease progression while on venetoclax
Prior intolerance to acalabrutinib or venetoclax
Prior malignancy (or any other malignancy requiring active treatment), except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, low-grade prostate carcinoma (Gleason grade =\< 6) or other cancer from which the subject has been disease free for \>= 2 years or which will not limit survival to \< 3 years
Clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of screening, or any class 3 or 4 cardiac diseases as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, or corrected QT interval (QTc) \> 480 msec at screening. Subjects with controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation during screening can enroll on study.
Malabsorption syndrome, disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function, or resection of the stomach or small bowel that is likely to affect absorption, symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease, partial or complete bowel obstruction, or gastric restrictions and bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass. Patients with history of such operations are eligible if in treating physician's opinion they have no absorption issues.
Known history of drug-specific hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to acalabrutinib or venetoclax
Active bleeding or history of bleeding diathesis (e.g. hemophilia or von Willebrand disease), or requires/is receiving anticoagulation with warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonists
Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) or activated partial thromboplastic time (aPTT) (in the absence of lupus anticoagulant) \> 2 x ULN
Uncontrolled autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Presence of a gastrointestinal ulcer diagnosed by endoscopy within 3 months before screening
Requires treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor or inducers. The use of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors or inducers within 7 days of the first dose of study drug is prohibited.
For patients receiving capsule formulation of acalabrutinib only: Requires treatment with proton pump inhibitors (eg, omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, rabeprazole, or pantoprazole) at the time of enrollment. Subjects receiving proton pump inhibitors who switch to H2-receptor antagonists or antacids are eligible for enrollment to this study.
History of significant cerebrovascular disease/event, including stroke or intracranial hemorrhage, within 6 months before the first dose of study drug
Major surgical procedure within 7 days of first dose of study drug. Note: If a subject had major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from any toxicity and/or complications from the intervention before the first dose of study drug
Hepatitis B or C serologic status: subjects who are hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive and who are surface antigen negative will need to have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Those who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) positive or hepatitis B PCR positive will be excluded. Subjects who are hepatitis C antibody positive will need to have a negative PCR result. Those who are hepatitis C PCR positive will be excluded.
Breastfeeding or pregnant
Concurrent participation in another therapeutic clinical trial
Known history of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any active significant infection (e.g,. bacterial, viral, or fungal)
History of or ongoing confirmed central nervous system (CNS) CLL
History of confirmed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
What this trial measures
- Rate of undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD)At the end of treatment (26 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days)
MRD will be assessed using multicolor flow cytometry (sensitivity 10\^-4) (uMRD4) from peripheral blood (PB).