Dr. Burger on the Changing Treatment Landscape of CLL

Jan A. Burger, MD, PhD, tenured professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, lecturer, internal medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University, School of Medicine, Freiberg, Germany, faculty, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, discusses the changing treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The addition of multiple treatment options has provided a boost in treating CLL, since most patients are doing better than what was previously seen with chemoimmunotherapy, Burger explains. Additionally, patients are experiencing fewer toxicities with these different agents, Burger says.

Progress still needs to be made with new agents, Burger notes. Problems with toxicities and resistance can still arise, Burger continues. However, outcomes and life expectancy have improved for these patients, Burger concludes.