Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma: two faces of the same disease

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are considered indolent lymphocytic malignancies, more often requiring active surveillance rather than intervention. Despite the indolent nature of CLL/SLL, treatment is likely indicated in a patients’ lifetime. Recent changes in the therapeutic landscape have created more options to the clinician.

Areas covered: The authors provide a broad assessment of the current state of disease, including the work-up, prognostic features, and mutational aspects of the disease that should be acknowledged when developing a rational treatment plan. Key studies, guideline recommendations, and expert analysis are used to create this update on CLL/SLL.

Expert commentary: The recent pace of treatment additions in CLL/SLL is a welcome addition. Moving forward, it is anticipated that treatment modalities will continue to evolve, leading to additional management options that truly would define CLL/SLL as a chronic disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• small lymphocytic lymphoma
• CLL/SLL
• monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis
• TP53
• ATM
• NOTCH1
• SF3B1
• BIRC3

Declaration of interest

M Tees has received Speakers’ Bureau for Gilead and Celgene. I Flinn has received institutional research funding from Acerta, Beigene, Celgene, Constellation, Curis, Forty Seven, Genentech, Gilead, ImmunoGen, Infinity, Janssen, KITE, Novartis, Portola, Seattle Genetics, Takeda, TG Therapeutics and Trillium. 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.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.