Onkológia 5/2021

Innovative treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia using chemo-free strategies, ringing the bell for chemotherapy?

The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) reflects one of the great advances in modern medicine with the development of therapies aimed at disrupting the signaling pathways that affect the survival and proliferation of a malignant clone. The advent of target molecules, along with the development of new monoclonal antibodies, has enabled CLL patients to achieve deeper remission and changed current therapeutic approaches and treatment goals. In parallel with the increase in the number of available target drugs, there has been a significant improvement in the quality and life expectancy of patients diagnosed with CLL in the last decade. Given the number of therapeutic options available, the question arises as to whether chemotherapy still plays a role in the treatment of CLL. This article focuses on the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the new era of personalized medicine, a summary of the available evidence, and an emphasis on optimal treatment strategies. The aim is to identify optimal “tailored” treatment strategies, by examining available data on monotherapy versus combination strategies, depth of response, duration of treatment and potential toxicities.

Keywords: chronická lymfocytová leukémia, cielená liečba, chemoterapia, personalizovaná medicína, prognóza