Key Takeaways for Community Oncologists Treating Treatment-Naive CLL

Sameh Gaballa, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, closes this OncLive Insights program on treatment-naive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) by asking for practical advice for community oncologists. M. Yair Levy, MD, of Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, observes that fixed-duration therapy is used less in the community than in academic centers and urges clinicians to discuss every guideline-recommended option. Andrew H. Lipsky, MD, of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, recommends starting the treatment conversation early, and sending baseline prognostic markers, particularly immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region status and next-generation sequencing for TP53, even if late. For patients about to begin first-line therapy, Dr Lipsky emphasizes shared decision-making, Dr Levy reassures that every recommended option is strong and salvage regimens exist if the first choice is not ideal, and Dr Gaballa adds that patients will not go wrong with any current option, with more on the way.