Improving treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia when current medicines stop working

Understanding mechanisms of BTK inhibitor and degrader resistance in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11128567

This research aims to discover why some chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients stop responding to new medications, so we can find better ways to help them.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11128567 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Many patients with B-cell cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) benefit from medicines called BTK inhibitors, but sometimes these treatments stop working or cause side effects. Newer, more targeted BTK inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials to address these issues. However, even with these new drugs, some patients still don't respond or their cancer returns. Our goal is to understand why these new treatments fail for some patients and to develop better strategies, including new drug combinations, to overcome this resistance. We are looking closely at the cancer cells to see what changes occur that allow them to resist treatment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or other B-cell malignancies who have experienced their BTK inhibitor treatment becoming less effective or who are considering new treatment options might be interested in this research.

Not a fit: Patients whose chronic lymphocytic leukemia responds well to current BTK inhibitors and who do not experience resistance may not directly benefit from this specific research focus.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective and lasting treatments for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia whose current therapies are no longer working.

How similar studies have performed: While BTK inhibitors have shown success, understanding and overcoming resistance to the newer non-covalent forms is an active and evolving area of research.

Where this research is happening

CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.