Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: advances in biology and therapeutics

Recent advances in our understanding of the biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia have made it possible to stratify patients according to risk. In addition, advances in the therapy of patients have improved responses and have for the first time allowed for a risk adapted approach to patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia similar to that which has been used for acute leukemia for years. Tumor cell differentiation status and presence of specific somatic and immunoglobulin gene mutations have been shown to be reliable predictors of disease behaviors. This knowledge could provide clinicians with tools to better stratify patients and eventually affect their clinical outcomes. Furthermore, new therapeutic agents and treatment combinations that appear to have increased efficacy have been developed.