Ibrutinib as an Immune Modulating Agent for Patients With Asymptomatic, High-risk CLL/SLL Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must have histologically identified chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of hematopoietic neoplasms

CLL/SLL cells must demonstrate one or more of the following high-risk genomic features:

Del17p13.1(tumor protein p53 [TP53]) as detected by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH)
Del11q22.3 ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) as detected by FISH
Complex karyotype (>= 3 cytogenetic abnormalities on stimulated karyotype)
Unmutated immunoglobulin variable region heavy chain (IgVH) ( >= 98% sequence homology compared with germline sequence)
Zeta-chain (TCR) associated protein kinase 70kDa (ZAP-70) gene promoter hypomethylation < 20%
No prior therapy for CLL/SLL, including chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is allowed
Estimated life expectancy of greater than 24 months
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2 (Karnofsky >= 60%)
Total bilirubin =< 1.5X upper limit of normal (ULN) unless secondary to Gilbert's disease
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5X institutional upper limit of normal
Serum creatinine =< 2 md/dL or estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 50ml/min/body surface area (BSA)
Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) < 1.5 x ULN and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]) < 1.5 x ULN
Able to swallow capsules without difficulty and no history of malabsorption syndrome, disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function, or resection of the stomach or small bowel or active ulcerative colitis, symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease, or partial or complete bowel obstruction
Female subjects who are of non-reproductive potential (i.e., post-menopausal by history - no menses for >= 1 year; OR history of hysterectomy; OR history of bilateral tubal ligation; OR history of bilateral oophorectomy); female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test upon study entry
Male and female subjects who agree to use highly effective methods of birth control (eg, condoms, implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine devices [IUDs], sexual abstinence, or sterilized partner) during the period of therapy and for 30 days after the last dose of study drug

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients meeting any of the following consensus criteria for initiating treatment for their CLL:

Progressive symptomatic splenomegaly and/or lymphadenopathy identified by physical examination
Anemia ( < 11g/dL) or thrombocytopenia ( < 100,000/uL) due to bone marrow involvement
Presence of unintentional weight loss > 10% over the preceding 6 months
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade >= 3 fatigue
Fevers > 100.5°F or night sweats for > 2 weeks without evidence of infection
Patients who have had any treatment for their CLL/SLL, including but not limited to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy, prior to entering the study
No corticosteroid use will be permitted within two weeks prior to study, except for maintenance therapy for a non-malignant disease; maintenance therapy dose may not exceed 20 mg/day prednisone or equivalent
Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
History of allergic reactions attributable to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ibrutinib or any component of pneumococcal, influenza and DTaP vaccines
Prior malignancy, except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other cancer from which the subject is considered by his or her physician to have a less than 2-year survival expectation
Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection and/or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
Currently active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease, such as uncontrolled arrhythmia or class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification; or a history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or acute coronary syndrome within 6 months prior to randomization
Concurrent systemic immunosuppressant therapy (eg, cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, etc., or chronic administration [> 14 days] of > 20mg/day of prednisone) within 14 days of the first dose of study drug
Patients must discontinue treatment with H2-blockers (cimetidine, ranitidine, etc.) prior to beginning protocol therapy
Vaccinated with any of the vaccines planned for administration in the trial within 8 weeks of starting treatment on the study
Recent infection requiring systemic treatment that was completed =< 14 days before starting treatment on the study
Concomitant use of warfarin or other vitamin K antagonists
Patients who require treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4/5 inhibitor
Known bleeding disorders (eg, von Willebrand's disease) or hemophilia
History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to enrollment
Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV); patients who are positive for hepatitis B core antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result before enrollment; those who are PCR positive will be excluded
Major surgery within 4 weeks of starting trial
Any life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction that, in the investigator's opinion, could compromise the subject's safety or put the study outcomes at undue risk
Lactating or pregnant
Unwilling or unable to participate in all required study evaluations and procedures
Unable to understand the purpose and risks of the study and to provide a signed and dated informed consent form (ICF) and authorization to use protected health information (in accordance with national and local subject privacy regulations)