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News
Venetoclax poses greater tumor lysis syndrome risk in MCL than CLL. A real-world study found TLS occurred in 8.6% of MCL patients vs. 5.6% of CLL patients, with mortality rates of 2.2% vs. 0.3%. The findings highlight the need for vigilant monitoring—especially during the early dose ramp-up period.
A real-world retrospective study presented at the 2026 SOHO Annual Meeting found that venetoclax (Venclexta)-based regimens carry a meaningfully higher risk of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) compared to those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Researchers analyzed electronic health records from over 5,000 patients treated between 2016 and 2024.
TLS tended to strike early in both groups — within the first two to three weeks of treatment — pointing to the dose ramp-up phase as the most critical window for monitoring. Notably, the two patient populations were demographically similar (median age 69, comparable comorbidities), suggesting the difference in TLS risk is driven by disease biology rather than patient characteristics.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings give clinicians real-world evidence to better stratify TLS risk when prescribing venetoclax, reinforcing that MCL patients warrant especially close surveillance during treatment initiation.
