Ibrutinib (Seleckchem; S2680) was resuspended in 1% methylcellulose and 0.4% Cremephor EL (Sigma; M0262 and C5135), and administered daily for 9 days by oral gavage at 12.5mg/kg, a dose which is sufficient to ensure 90% occupancy of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) [45 (link)]. Rituximab (40mg/kg; Roche; 2530376), or saline control was given intravenously 3 times per week.[46 (link)] Fludarabine (0.625mg/kg, TEVA; 231-10-04151) and cyclophosphamide (6.25mg/kg, Baxter; 1001995501) or saline (control) were injected intraperitoneally 3 times per week, for two weeks, [47 (link)] whereas chlorambucil (5mg/kg; Sigma; CO253) or 3% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, Sigma; D2650) vehicle control was administered daily for 5 days intraperitonally [48 (link)].
At specific time points (one week following treatment with chlorambucil, Fludarabine/cyclophosphamide or Rituximab and the next day following treatment with Ibrutinib) animals were sacrificed and single cell solutions produced from their homogenized spleens. CLL cells were sorted by flow-cytometry as demonstrated in the