Emerging drugs for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Abstract

Although the philosophy of management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has been altered with the advent of fludarabine-based therapies, impact on long-term survival is unclear and a significant proportion of patients will develop resistance to fludarabine. Similar to other haematological malignancies, a potential for ‘cure’ is likely to be achieved only if ‘high-quality’ complete remissions (CRs) are achieved. Treatment options for patients who develop resistance to fludarabine continue to be limited, with only a proportion obtaining a response (usually not CRs) with salvage therapies. This review summarises novel therapies that are being evaluated in patients with CLL, specifically those targeting the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins and receptors (e.g., CD40, CD80, HLA-DR) involved in mediating survival signals from the microenvironment.

Keywords::

• 1D09C3
• apolizumab
• BH3 mimetics
• CHIR-12.12
• chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
• epratuzumab
• galiximab
• lumiliximab
• oblimersen sodium

Acknowlegdements

Supported in part by a Canadian Cancer Society – Ontario Division Fellowship.