Front-line treatment of CLL in the era of novel agents

Publication date: Available online 30 December 2016
Source:Cancer Treatment Reviews
Author(s): Tadeusz Robak, Stephan Stilgenbauer, Alessandra Tedeschi
Although chemoimmunotherapy prolongs survival and as such, is the standard of care for treatment-naïve patients, its effectiveness may be reduced by associated toxicity and dose reductions. In addition, it has been associated with the development of myelosuppression and secondary neoplasms; treatments are hence needed which offer greater survival and lowered toxicity. A range of new targeted agents, ibrutinib, idelalisib and venetoclax, have demonstrated such a balance in a second-line setting, offering CLL patients durable remissions and a modest toxicity profile. Ibrutinib has since been given first-line approval,and with news of second-generation targeted agents on the horizon, high-level discussions have taken place concerning their use in elderly or unfit patients; with potential use in younger patients in a first-line setting. This article reviews the potential first-line therapeutic options for treating CLL and their clinical potential and examines whether first-line chemotherapy has a place in the age of targeted agents.



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