Dr. Wierda on the Need for Continuous Treatment for CLL

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, medical director of the Leukemia Center at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the need for continuous treatments for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

One challenge is the need for continuous treatment, states Wierda. If patients recieve a small molecule inhibitor, they have high disease control but they still have measurable disease. If the patient no longer receives the medicine, the disease will continue to grow.

Currently, researchers are aiming to develop non-chemotherapy regimens, either by sequencing the drugs or combinations that will allow for a treatment-free period.