Dr. Awan on the Importance of Collaborative Care in CLL

Farrukh Awan, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), and a member of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UTSW's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, discusses the importance of collaborative care in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The field of CLL continues to excel forward with novel molecular biomarkers​, new therapeutic options, and ongoing clinical trials, says Awan.

Despite this, CLL remains a complex disease, Awan adds. As such, closely ​collaboration between community oncologists and CLL experts is often necessary to ensure patients receiv​e optimal care.

Moreover, ​individuals who treat many cases of CLL may be able to recommend ongoing clinical trials that community oncologists are not aware of, Awan adds.

Ultimately, ​collaborative care is needed to identify new treatment​s and testing options, and to improve upon available therapies, Awan concludes.