Study summary

Adding acalabrutinib to chemo-immunotherapy delayed progression by about 17 months

ECHO trial · 598 people, phase 3 · Published May 2025, Journal of Clinical Oncology; FDA approved January 2025

66.4 momedian progression-free survival, vs 49.6 months with placebo

What was tested

Acalabrutinib, a BTK inhibitor pill, or placebo, added to bendamustine-rituximab and then rituximab maintenance, for untreated mantle cell lymphoma in people 65 and older.

What they found

Median progression-free survival was 66.4 vs 49.6 months (hazard ratio 0.73).
Complete responses were 66.6% vs 53.5%.
Overall survival was not significantly different.

What it means

Made a BTK pill part of first treatment for older adults.

J Clin Oncol, via PubMed ↗ ← Back to the outlook

Last reviewed 2026-11-15 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.