Dr. Skarbnik on Frontline Treatment Considerations in CLL

Alan P. Z. Skarbnik, MD, a hematologist/oncologist with Novant Health, discusses frontline treatment considerations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Currently, treatment with the fixed-duration combination of venetoclax (Venclexta) and obinutuzumab (Gazyva) or BTK inhibitors are standard frontline options for patients with CLL, Skarbnik says.

Treatment selection is largely based on risk and whether patients are candidates for fixed-duration therapy, explains Skarbnik.

In particular, patients with 17p deletion or TP53 mutations tend to progress more quickly after completing treatment with venetoclax/obinutuzumab versus patients without those abnormalities, Skarbnik explains.

As such, those patients may be considered for a BTK inhibitor in the frontline setting, concludes Skarbnik.