Onkológia 6/2008

CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA – STAGING AND TREATMENT (PART 2)

Understanding of the natural history of the most common leukemia of adults, recognition of treatment complications and introduction of monoclonal antibodies changed completely the approach towards CLL. Randomized trials have demonstrated superior activity for fludarabine combined with cyclophosphamide versus single-agent fludarabine or chlorambucil as initial treatment. Chemoimunotherapy holds promise for further improvement. Eradication of minimal residual disease is the therapeutic endpoint that may prove to prolong survival and is under investigation. And we continue towards improving the overall survival and potentially curing patients with this disease.

Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemia, staging, fludarabin, alemtuzumab, rituximab, allogeneic stem cell transplantation