Over the years, the treatment for CLL has undergone significant advancements, shifting from non-specific chemotherapy to targeted therapies.
Initially, chemotherapy was the go-to option for treating CLL. The most common regimen was a combination of Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab (FCR). Chemotherapy killed cancer cells but also destroyed many healthy cells in the process, which resulted in uncomfortable and, sometimes, life-threatening side effects.
With chemotherapy, approximately 70% of patients achieved remission, but patients with high-risk chemo-associated genetic mutations did not respond well to treatment and needed better treatment options.
The late 2000s and 2010s marked a turning point in CLL treatment with the advent of targeted therapies. These medicines are specifically designed to attack cancerous B-cells (CLL cells). They can also reduce healthy B-cells; however, they leave other healthy cells alone, which chemo did not do.
Yes! One of the most promising advances in CLL treatment is combining different targeted therapies. The rationale is to attack the CLL cells from different angles, making it hard for leukemia cells to survive or become resistant to treatment.
To this date, the only potential cure for CLL is an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant, which remains an option after using targeted agents. Fortunately, CLL patients can achieve remission and live cancer-free for over 10 years. Some others with high-risk genetics may struggle due to relapse or have a refractory disease meaning that CLL cells are not responding to treatment. The BTK inhibitors, such as ibrutinib, acalabrutunib, and zanubrutinib, can be used indefinitely as only therapy because they continuously inhibit an enzyme that is essential to stop cancer cells from spreading, and they can be used as initial therapy for recently diagnosed CLL patients who require treatment.
Combinations have proven to be really useful for refractory CLL patients and can provide alternatives when a patient is intolerant to conventional therapy.
CLL specialists are pleased with the advances of non-chemo-targeted therapies, which have improved both the length and quality of CLL patients’ lives. These specialists and their research teams understand that more work is needed to help bridge treatment care gaps for relapsed/refractory CLL patients (patients whose disease comes back after treatment or whose cancer cells no longer respond to targeted therapies).
Future treatments for CLL are currently in clinical trials. These new and improved medicines test their effectiveness against the current CLL medicines. Clinical trials include CAR T-cell therapy for CLL and combinations of non-chemo-targeted therapies to improve treatment effectiveness compared to what is currently approved for CLL treatment.
HealthTree’s community has seen that patients and their caregivers who are involved in learning about their cancer have better treatment outcomes. We invite you to use HealthTree’s programs to educate yourself about the facets of this disease. Doing so will prepare you to be an active participant in advancing toward a cure for CLL through research.
If you are interested in participating in or finding a clinical trial, locating a CLL specialist, or staying informed about updates on CLL with a biweekly newsletter, you can create a free HealthTree Cure Hub account!
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Over the years, the treatment for CLL has undergone significant advancements, shifting from non-specific chemotherapy to targeted therapies.
Initially, chemotherapy was the go-to option for treating CLL. The most common regimen was a combination of Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab (FCR). Chemotherapy killed cancer cells but also destroyed many healthy cells in the process, which resulted in uncomfortable and, sometimes, life-threatening side effects.
With chemotherapy, approximately 70% of patients achieved remission, but patients with high-risk chemo-associated genetic mutations did not respond well to treatment and needed better treatment options.
The late 2000s and 2010s marked a turning point in CLL treatment with the advent of targeted therapies. These medicines are specifically designed to attack cancerous B-cells (CLL cells). They can also reduce healthy B-cells; however, they leave other healthy cells alone, which chemo did not do.
Yes! One of the most promising advances in CLL treatment is combining different targeted therapies. The rationale is to attack the CLL cells from different angles, making it hard for leukemia cells to survive or become resistant to treatment.
To this date, the only potential cure for CLL is an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant, which remains an option after using targeted agents. Fortunately, CLL patients can achieve remission and live cancer-free for over 10 years. Some others with high-risk genetics may struggle due to relapse or have a refractory disease meaning that CLL cells are not responding to treatment. The BTK inhibitors, such as ibrutinib, acalabrutunib, and zanubrutinib, can be used indefinitely as only therapy because they continuously inhibit an enzyme that is essential to stop cancer cells from spreading, and they can be used as initial therapy for recently diagnosed CLL patients who require treatment.
Combinations have proven to be really useful for refractory CLL patients and can provide alternatives when a patient is intolerant to conventional therapy.
CLL specialists are pleased with the advances of non-chemo-targeted therapies, which have improved both the length and quality of CLL patients’ lives. These specialists and their research teams understand that more work is needed to help bridge treatment care gaps for relapsed/refractory CLL patients (patients whose disease comes back after treatment or whose cancer cells no longer respond to targeted therapies).
Future treatments for CLL are currently in clinical trials. These new and improved medicines test their effectiveness against the current CLL medicines. Clinical trials include CAR T-cell therapy for CLL and combinations of non-chemo-targeted therapies to improve treatment effectiveness compared to what is currently approved for CLL treatment.
HealthTree’s community has seen that patients and their caregivers who are involved in learning about their cancer have better treatment outcomes. We invite you to use HealthTree’s programs to educate yourself about the facets of this disease. Doing so will prepare you to be an active participant in advancing toward a cure for CLL through research.
If you are interested in participating in or finding a clinical trial, locating a CLL specialist, or staying informed about updates on CLL with a biweekly newsletter, you can create a free HealthTree Cure Hub account!
about the author
Megan Heaps
Megan joined HealthTree in 2022. As a writer and the daughter of a blood cancer patient, she is dedicated to helping patients and their caregivers understand the various aspects of their disease. This understanding enables them to better advocate for themselves and improve their treatment outcomes. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family.
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