Dr. Abutalib on Recent Updates in CLL

Syed A. Abutalib, MD, associate medical director, Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Chicago, discusses recent updates in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The introduction of time-limited regimens with targeted therapies, as well as the growing role of minimal residual disease (MRD) have had positive effects on the management of CLL, although the optimal utilization of these advances is not yet fully understood, Abutalib explains. However, in the future, it is anticipated that clinical trial developments will incorporate MRD into the clinical testing arena. Findings from such trials will shed light on how MRD testing can further inform treatment considerations for this patient population, Abutalib says.

Moreover, develops with targeted therapies combinations in high-risk CLL populations remain important developments in the field, Abutalib continues. Additionally, prognostication and predictive models, such as the International Prognostic Index for CLL, are being refined. For example, a new prognostic system is available to stratify patients with CLL who were primarily treated with ibrutinib (Imbruvica), Abutalib concludes.