title: The role of chemotherapy in managing chronic lymphocytic leukemia: optimizing combinations with targeted therapy.
abstract: For many years, alkylating agents were the standard treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The advent of purine analogs improved response rates, but not overall survival, and although the monoclonal antibody rituximab is generally active against B-cell malignancies, it has demonstrated limited benefits as monotherapy for the treatment of CLL. However, specific combinations of chemotherapy, antibodies and targeted therapies have demonstrated additive or synergistic activity in CLL cells and deliver substantial clinical benefits. A greater understanding of the actions of chemotherapies and targeted agents on cellular pathways will advance the development of rationally designed combinations corresponding to individual patients' disease profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Loretta J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Nastoupil
authors.forename: Rajni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Flowers
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents