Paradigm Shift in the Management of Patients with Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia through NCI-sponsored Clinical Trials

PROJECT SUMMARY

Dr. Parikh is a consultant in the Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in

Rochester, MN, and holds the rank of Associate Professor of Medicine with the Mayo Clinic Alix School

of Medicine. Dr. Parikh is also a member of the CLL Disease Team and the Lymphoid Malignancies

Disease Group of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since joining on staff at Mayo Clinic,

his clinical and research efforts have focused on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Dr. Parikh’s

overall goal is to improve the care of patients with CLL through the development of novel clinical trials

in collaboration with the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). To further his objectives, Dr. Parikh

proposes with this R50 application to: 1) complete the ECOG-ACRIN trial “EA9161: A Randomized

Phase III Study of the Addition of Venetoclax to Ibrutinib and Obinutuzumab Versus Ibrutinib and

Obinutuzumab in Untreated Younger Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)”, and the

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology clinical trial “A041702 A Randomized Phase III Study of Ibrutinib

Plus Obinutuzumab Versus Ibrutinib Plus Venetoclax and Obinutuzumab in Untreated Older Patients

(≥65 Years of Age) with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)”; and participate in the final outcome

analysis, correlative biomarker analysis, and drafting of abstracts and manuscripts; 2) develop the study

protocol and serve as the National PI for the next ECOG-ACRIN-led frontline CLL protocol titled

“EA9231: Measurable Residual Disease Guided Frontline Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic

Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Patients 65 years) with previously untreated CLL. Additionally, in his role as

the Chair of the CLL Disease Team and Vice Chair of the Lymphoid Malignancies Disease Group of

the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Parikh oversees the strategic plans for all clinical

trials in CLL across the Mayo Enterprise, including NCTN-sponsored trials. Dr. Parikh also participates

and actively collaborates on several correlative studies that are being conducted on samples collected

from CLL patients enrolled on ECOG-ACRIN trials across the country. Dr. Parikh views the opportunity

to submit this application for the NCI Research Specialist (Clinician Scientist) R50 award as a significant

and critical opportunity to continue his career goal of developing, implementing, and completing the

most cutting-edge and state-of-the-art clinical trials in CLL conducted by the NCTN.