Sequential and combination treatments with novel agents in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Moritz Fürstenau,
Michael Hallek,
Barbara Eichhorst
Affiliations
Moritz Fürstenau
University of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University Hospital Cologne
Michael Hallek
University of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University Hospital Cologne;Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Disease (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Barbara Eichhorst
University of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, German CLL Study Group, University Hospital Cologne
Chemoimmunotherapy has been the standard of care for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia for a long time. However, over the last few years, novel agents have produced unprecedented outcomes in treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. With the advent of these targeted agents, treatment options have diversified very considerably and new questions have emerged. For example, it is unclear whether these novel agents should be used as sequential monotherapies until disease progression or whether they should preferably be combined in time-limited treatment regimens aimed at achieving deep and durable remissions. While both approaches yield high response rates and long progression-free and overall survival, it remains challenging to identify patients individually for the optimal concept. This review provides guidance in this decision process by presenting evidence on sequential and combined use of novel agents and discussing the advantages and drawbacks of these two approaches.
