Dr. Danilov on the Reduced Use of Chemoimmunotherapy in CLL

Alexey V. Danilov, MD, PhD, associate director, Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center and professor, Division of Lymphoma, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, discusses the reduced use of chemoimmunotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

With new approaches emerging for patients with CLL, the role of chemoimmunotherapy will continue to decrease, Danilov says. Much of this patient population is diagnosed over the age of 60 years and the median age at diagnosis is 70 years, Danilov adds. Therefore, by the time patients require therapy, many patients are not fit candidates for chemoimmunotherapy, Danilov explains.

Moreover, it has been demonstrated that targeted therapy improves survival compared withchemoimmunotherapy in CLL, particularly in the relapsed/refractory setting, Danilov continues. With several novel approaches in clinical development, it is likely that the role of chemoimmunotherapy will be further diminished, Danilov concludes.