The GLOW trial in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

The article on the 4-year follow-up from the GLOW study by Carsten U Niemann and colleagues1 emphasises a considerable progression-free and overall survival advantage favouring first-line time-limited treatment with ibrutinib plus venetoclax over chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia aged 65 years or older, or aged 18–64 years with comorbidities. However, we are concerned about the remarkably high mortality of 29% in the chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab group observed at a median follow-up of 46 months.