Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Drugs targeting B-cell receptor signaling pathways are improving outcomes for patients with B-cell lymphomas; these novel agents include idelalisib and ibrutinib, and are considered a breakthrough for CLL and other B-cell lymphomas.

A phase III study of the PI3K-delta inhibitor idelalisib in combination with rituximab has been stopped early following a positive interim analysis.

Jennifer Woyach, MD, assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the role of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The monoclonal antibody ofatumumab has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA that could allow for earlier use in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Obinutuzumab (GA101), a novel antibody that targets CD20, demonstrated a dramatic advantage in response rates when added to chlorambucil compared with the chemotherapy agent alone in elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Ibrutinib was well tolerated and highly effective in eradicating tumor cells in both treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in an ongoing phase II study.

Valentin Goede, MD, Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, University of Cologne, Germany, discusses the findings of the phase III CLL11 trial.

The novel selective PI3K-delta inhibitor idelalisib produced rapid and prolonged tumor shrinkage in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia who received the drug as a monotherapy.

Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, Director, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the use of rituximab and ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, Director, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with ibrutinib, idelalisib, and other agents.

After receiving breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for the treatment of two B-cell malignancies earlier this year, ibrutinib has received an additional breakthrough designation.

While there is no standard treatment for most patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who are age 65 years and older, several regimens are being tested in clinical trials.

Two novel, oral drugs that target the B-Cell receptor signal transduction pathway could significantly change the way chronic lymphocytic leukemia is treated.

Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, Director, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses gauging response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Several updates highlighted at the 2012 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting as well as other developments.

The first set of results from a phase III clinical trial found that obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil chemotherapy significantly improved PFS in patients with CLL.

Research from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that chlorambucil may be better than fludarabine in treating older patients with CLL, and that rituximab is beneficial regardless of age.

Richard R. Furman, MD, from the Weill Cornell Medical Center, discusses the safety profile of the oral BTK inhibitor ibrutinib in both relapsed/refractory and treatment naive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

John C. Byrd, MD, director of the division of hematology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the new and updated results of a phase Ib/II study involving ibrutinib at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.

In early clinical trials, small-molecule inhibitors have demonstrated improvement in response rates in elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Andrew D. Zelenetz, MD, PhD, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, previews several trials that will likely be presented at the 54th annual ASH meeting.

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, discussed the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the 16th Annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies.

Results of recent trials investigating novel therapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia were discussed at the 16th Annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies.

Dr. William Wierda, from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Discusses Watchful Waiting in CLL

Dr. William Wierda, from MD Anderson Cancer Center, on Diagnosing Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia