The Latest News and Updates in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Known as the most common form of leukemia found in adults, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has seen an influx of research in recent weeks. Here, CURE® takes a look back at some of the latest news and updates in the CLL space:

1. A combination of cirmtuzumab plus Imbruvica (ibrutinib) could be beneficial in treating patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) or CLL/small cell leukemia (SLL), according to new data from a phase 1b/2 study presented at the 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program in late May.
2. In other ASCO news, long term data has demonstrated that Calquence (acalabrutinib) is safe and effective in patients with treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia, supporting its use in the front line setting in this population.
3. Members of a family of targeted drugs used to treat blood cancer, known as BTK inhibitors, may be helpful in treating COVID-19, and some of these medications are being tested in clinical trials, experts explained in CURE®’s first-ever live webinar.
4. Another study presented on at the Virtual Scientific Program has found that the combination of Venclexta (venetoclax) and Gazyva (obinutuzumab) elicited superior efficacy, compared to Leukeran (chlorambucil) and Gazyva in patients with previously untreated CLL.
5. In CURE®’s webinar, “Hear from the Experts: COVID-19 & Cancer Care for Patients”, Dr. Ian Flinn and Dr. Saad Usmani addressed how the new coronavirus has affected stem cell transplants, as well as the management of CLL and myeloma clinical trials.