[Advances in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia]

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common forms of leukemia in the western world and is characterized by a highly variable clinical course. Some patients live for many years without treatment, whereas other have disease with rapid progression. The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia has achieved extraordinary progress over the last years with the incorporation of monoclonal antibodies and combined chemoimmunotherapy. Despite these therapeutic successes, CLL is still considered to be an incurable disease. Only the allogenic transplantation is potentially curative but it is feasible only for selected group of younger patients without comorbidities. However, elderly and comorbid patients, who represent the majority of CLL population, are not usually able to undergo intensive treatment. The search for new treatment options is therefore still relevant. This review summerizes the current treatment options and newly tested drugs in CLL.