title: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Current Concepts.
abstract: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in adults, and while in early, asymptomatic stages treatment is not indicated, the threat to the quality of life and increased mortality of patients posed by more advanced-stage disease necessitate therapeutic intervention. Guidelines of when and how to treat are not well-established because CLL is a disease of the elderly and it is important to balance preservation of functional status and control of the disease. Advances in molecular and genetic profiling has led to the ability to identify sub-groups of patients with CLL whose disease may respond to selected therapy. This review discusses current standard therapies in the major sub-groups of CLL based on age and functional status, in both the front-line and relapsed/refractory settings. It also provides a concise review of novel agents that have shown considerable efficacy in CLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/ Oncology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kittai
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/ Oncology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, U.S.A. itabbara@mfa.gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Imad A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Tabbara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; ibrutinib; idelalisib; ofatumumab; review; rituximab; small-cell lymphoma