Paving the way for new agents; is standard chemotherapy part of the treatment paradigm for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the future?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: First and second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, represent a new, fully biologic and targeted approach to chronic lymphocytic leukemia and allowed to obtain high responses and acceptable tolerability even in elderly and high risk patients. On the other hand, prolonged experience with these agents has raised some questions on unexpected toxicities, response quality, treatment duration and onset of resistances.

Areas covered: This review analyzes the main published studies with the aim to discuss whether, in future, new agents could become a part of standard treatments or even replace the chemo-immunotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Expert commentary: Despite different trials has been already published and many are still ongoing, follow up times are, at present, too short.

A chemo-free approach surely represents a desirable goal for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, nevertheless longer observation is warranted to better define the correct use of targeted therapies.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• targeted therapies
• new agents
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• ibrutinib
• idelalisib
• duvelisib
• venetoclax
• acalabrutinib
• chemoimmunotherapy

Declaration of interest

M Montillo participated to advisory board from Janssen, Gilead, GSK and Roche, received honoraria from Janssen, Gilead, Roche, Novartis. A Tedeschi received honoraria and participated to advisory board from Janssen. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.