Dr. Eradat on Novel Therapy Vs Chemotherapy in CLL

Herbert A. Eradat, MD, associate professor, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, compares novel therapies with cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

CLL develops through 2 pathogenic mechanisms: one is that cells either do not die properly, or the cells are dependent on signals through the B-cell receptor, Eradat explains. Most novel therapies exploit those 2 pathogenic mechanisms, which is why they tend to be more effective and better tolerated than cytotoxic chemotherapy, according to Eradat.

With novel therapies, agents are attacking how the disease develops and thrives in the patient, whereas traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy is controlled administration of a poison that is supposed to control the disease, but is significantly toxic, concludes Eradat.