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Frontline Therapy of CLL: Evolving Treatment Paradigm

  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemias (N Jain, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has multiple current frontline therapy options, including chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) and most recently, ibrutinib. Here, we review the most recent updates in the frontline treatment of CLL, including updates in CIT, updates in targeted therapies, and ongoing clinical trials.

Recent Findings

Ibrutinib was FDA-approved for the upfront treatment of CLL in 2016 after being studied in older patients and those with 17p deletions or TP53 mutations. The introduction of ibrutinib has dramatically changed the treatment paradigm of CLL.

Summary

Recent updates in CIT include that immunoglobulin heavy chain variable (IGHV) gene mutation status is strongly predictive of response to CIT. Regarding targeted therapy, next-generation BTK and PI3K inhibitors are currently being studied in the upfront treatment of CLL, which may have less toxicity than their first-generation counterparts. Other novel targeted therapies are being studied in the frontline setting, most notably venetoclax including in combinations, with hopes to achieve chemotherapy-free, time-limited treatment options. Multiple key ongoing phase 3 clinical trials will be answering these important clinical questions.

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  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E Superior Street, Lurie 3-103, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Craig S. Boddy

  2. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N St. Clair Street, Suite 850, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Shuo Ma

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Craig S. Boddy declares no potential conflicts of interest.

Shuo Ma reports personal fees from Pharmacyclics, Genetech, Abbvie, Gilead, and AstraZeneca and grants from Pharmacyclics, Abbvie, Gilead, AstraZeneca, Celgene, Xeme, and NCCN.

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Boddy, C.S., Ma, S. Frontline Therapy of CLL: Evolving Treatment Paradigm. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 13, 69–77 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-018-0438-x

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