Improving treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The last two decades have been time of tremendous progress in treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL). Chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) combining anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies with purine nucleoside analogs has been a substantial advance for patients with CLL and results in increased response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Despite these improved outcomes, only ≈ 45% of patients achieve a complete remission with CIT and nearly all patients eventually relapse and their remains a need to improve efficacy. Although new combinations of traditional agents may lead to incremental progress, more substantive improvements are likely to result through therapeutic targeting of novel pathways critical to CLL B-cell survival including targeting: (1) leukemia cell apoptotic resistance; (2) survival signals mediated through the B-cell receptor; and (3) nurturing interactions with the microenvironment. In this mini-review, we summarize Mayo Clinic's recent efforts to improve CIT for patients with CLL.