World CLL Day: What’s New in CLL Research

Every year, Blood Cancer Awareness Month begins with World CLL Day on September 1st. On World CLL Day, patients, caregivers, family members, advocates, healthcare professionals, and HealthTree Foundation raise awareness about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). 

Throughout the year, HealthTree News posts summaries of the latest CLL research. With the fast pace of cancer research, you may have missed some of the developments in CLL treatment, improvements in supportive care, and more. Learn more about what HealthTree News has shared about CLL research this year!

What is CLL?

CLL is a blood cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called B lymphocytes or B cells. It is a chronic cancer that usually grows slowly, but there is a type of CLL that grows faster. CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults. It most often affects adults age 65 and older, but can affect adults age 30 and older. An estimated 23,000 people will be diagnosed with CLL in the United States this year. 

Throughout the year, HealthTree News summarizes the latest CLL research to help you stay on top of treatment advances and important information that people with CLL and their caregivers need to know. 

Here’s what you might have missed on HealthTree News: 

Understanding your risk of secondary cancers when you have CLL

People with CLL have a higher risk of developing secondary cancers. These are a new type of cancer that develops after the first. It is different from cancer that has spread from one part of the body to another. 

It is important for people with CLL to know their risks of developing secondary cancers. The most frequent secondary cancer is skin cancer, followed by other common cancers, such as breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancer. 

You can also learn more about the risk of secondary cancers for people with CLL through a HealthTree webinar featuring Dr. Brian Hill from the Cleveland Clinic. 

Exercise can help improve fatigue, strength, and immune health for people with CLL

Though it may seem counterintuitive, one of the best ways you can improve fatigue when you have CLL is by getting regular exercise. Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion that does not get better after sleep or rest. Even in early stages, fatigue is a common symptom of CLL. 

Dr. Alessandra Ferrajoli from MD Anderson Cancer Center shared during a HealthTree Webinar how exercise and diet changes can help reduce fatigue and improve quality of life. 

Real-world results: Zanubrutinib in comparison to other BTK inhibitors

Zanubrutinib (Brukinsa, BeOne) was approved to treat CLL in 2023. It is a type of targeted therapy called a covalent BTK inhibitor. Other examples of BTK inhibitors that treat CLL include acalabrutinib (Calquence, AstraZeneca) and ibrutinib (Imbruvica, Pharmacyclics/J&J). For many, BTK inhibitors are a first-line treatment for CLL. 

Now, real-world results show how zanubrutinib treats CLL in comparison to other BTK inhibitors. The median for time to next treatment, time to treatment discontinuation, and overall survival were not met. This means that more than half of the patients had not yet experienced the event being measured. 

Clinical trial results: Comparing sonrotoclax doses in combination with zanubrutinib as a first-line treatment for CLL

A recent clinical trial compared dosing of the investigational drug sonrotoclax (BGB-11417, BeOne) when combined with zanubrutinib as a first-line treatment for CLL. Patients were given either 160 mg of sonrotoclax or 320 mg of sonrotoclax in addition to zanubrutinib. 

Researchers wanted to know which dose helped more patients achieve undetectable minimal residual disease. A 320 mg dose of sonrotoclax was shown to be the most effective when compared with the 160 mg dose. This clinical trial is ongoing. 

Stay up-to-date on the latest CLL advances with HealthTree News

If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest treatment advances for people with CLL, subscribe to the HealthTree for CLL newsletter below! 

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