Emerging therapies for refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that becomes refractory to chemotherapy is associated with a poor outcome. For these patients, some of the novel substances that are currently in clinical development for CLL seem to offer new hope. These agents include small molecules, new antibodies, immunomodulators, kinase inhibitors, BCL-2 antagonists and chimeric antigen receptor transduced T-cells (CARTs) and combine high efficacy with a good safety profile. To date, allogeneic stem cell transplant remains the only curative treatment option for patients with relapsed, refractory CLL. However, it is possible that new substances will replace allogeneic stem cell transplant in the near future. This review provides an overview of the currently available data and an outlook on future therapies for chemotherapy refractory CLL.
Department I of Internal Medicine, Center of Integrated Oncology (CIO), CECAD (Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases) and German CLL Study Group (DCLLSG), University of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
Nadine
N
Kutsch
Michael
M
Hallek
Barbara
B
Eichhorst
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
BCL-2 antagonists; CARTs; Refractory/relapsed CLL; immunomodulators; kinase inhibitors; new antibodies; small molecules