title: Management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) typically follows an indolent course, many patients do not need to initiate therapy until they reach a relatively advanced age, when frailty and reduced organ function can make some of the standard treatments difficult to tolerate and less effective. However, recent advances in the understanding of CLL biology and the approval of agents in novel treatment classes have offered significant advances in the management of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The author reviewed current treatment goals in CLL management, including issues surrounding complete remission (CR) and minimal residual disease (MRD); the findings of trials of treatments from novel drug classes, primarily kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies; and current strategies for use of standard and novel therapies for treatment of individuals diagnosed with CLL, particularly elderly patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several agents and regimens featuring improved clinical outcomes and tolerability are now available or in advanced development for the management of CLL patients, including the elderly and those with high-risk disease. These include ibrutinib, idelalisib plus rituximab, and obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The availability of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors and other novel therapies will allow elderly CLL patients to receive more efficacious treatment with greater tolerability than available with traditional approaches for management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, CLL Research and Treatment Program, New Hyde Park, NY 11042, USA. jbarrientos@nshs.edu.
authors.forename: Jacqueline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barrientos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016330:Frail Elderly; D050438:Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors