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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]

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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]

This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

General Information About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Incidence and Mortality

Estimated new cases and deaths from CLL in the United States in 2019:[1 ]

  • New cases: 20,720.
  • Deaths: 3,930.

Anatomy

CLL is a disorder of morphologically mature but immunologically less mature lymphocytes and is manifested by progressive accumulation of these cells in the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic tissues.[2 ]

Blood cell development; drawing shows the steps a blood stem cell goes through to become a red blood cell, platelet, or white blood cell. A myeloid stem cell becomes a red blood cell, a platelet, or a myeloblast, which then becomes a granulocyte (the types of granulocytes are eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils). A lymphoid stem cell becomes a lymphoblast and then becomes a B-lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte, or natural killer cell.

Blood cell development. A blood stem cell goes through several steps to become a red blood cell, platelet, or white blood cell.

Clinical Presentation

The clinical course of this disease progresses from an indolent lymphocytosis without other evident disease to one of generalized lymphatic enlargement with concomitant pancytopenia. Complications of pancytopenia, including hemorrhage and infection, represent a major cause of death in these patients.[3 ] Immunological aberrations, including Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and depressed immunoglobulin levels may all complicate the management of CLL.[4 ]

Diagnostic Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose CLL include the following:[5 ]

  • History and physical examination (including bidimensional diameters of the largest palpable lymph nodes in the cervical, axillary, and inguinal nodal sites and dimensions of the liver and spleen below their respective costal margins as assessed by palpation).
  • Complete blood count with differential and chemistry panel (including creatinine, bilirubin, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase). Other blood tests may include lactate dehydrogenase and beta-2-microglobulin. With suspicion of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, testing for reticulocyte count, indirect bilirubin, serum haptoglobin, antiglobulin (direct Coombs), and cold agglutinin may be helpful.
  • Flow cytometry (for immunophenotyping).
  • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) (for del11q, del13q, del17p, trisomy 12, and t(11;14)).
  • TP53 mutation analysis.
  • IgHV mutation analysis.
  • Serum immunoglobulin levels.
  • Hepatitis B and C and HIV tests.
  • Computed tomography (CT) is usually not required in the absence of peripheral adenopathy; extensive adenopathy on examination should prompt investigation of retroperitoneal adenopathy.
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is usually not required.

In this disorder, lymphocyte counts in the blood are usually greater than or equal to 5,000/mm3 with a characteristic immunophenotype (CD5- and CD23-positive B cells).[6 ,7 ] As assays have become more sensitive for detecting monoclonal B-CLL–like cells in peripheral blood, researchers have detected a monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis in 3% of adults older than 40 years and in 6% of adults older than 60 years.[8 ] Such early detection and diagnosis may falsely suggest improved survival for the group and may unnecessarily worry or result in therapy for some patients who would have remained undiagnosed in their lifetime, a circumstance known in the literature as overdiagnosis or pseudodisease.[9 ,10 ]

Confusion with other diseases may be avoided by determination of cell surface markers. CLL lymphocytes coexpress the B-cell antigens CD19 and CD20 along with the T-cell antigen CD5.[11 ] This coexpression occurs in only one other disease entity, mantle cell lymphoma. CLL B cells express relatively low levels of surface-membrane immunoglobulin (compared with normal peripheral blood B cells) and a single light chain (kappa or lambda).[12 ] CLL is diagnosed by an absolute increase in lymphocytosis and/or bone marrow infiltration coupled with the characteristic features of morphology and immunophenotype, which confirm the characteristic clonal population. In a database analysis, for up to 77 months before diagnosis, almost all patients with a CLL diagnosis had prediagnostic B-cell clones that were identified in peripheral blood (when available).[7 ,13 ]

About 1% of morphologic CLL cases express T-cell markers (CD4 and CD7) and have clonal rearrangements of their T-cell receptor genes. These patients have a higher frequency of skin lesions, more variable lymphocyte shape, and shorter median survival (13 months) with minimal responses to chemotherapy and B-cell receptor inhibitors.[14 ]

The differential diagnosis must exclude the following:

  • Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is defined as a clonal B-cell population circulating in peripheral blood with fewer than 5 x 109 /L B cells and no signs of lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly.[15 ] Most cases have the immunophenotype of CLL. Low-count MBL (≤0.5 x 109 /L B cells) rarely progresses to overt CLL, but higher levels can progress to symptomatic CLL at a rate of less than 2% per year.[15 ] In two selected series of more than 900 patients followed up prospectively for a median of 5 to 7 years, overt CLL requiring chemotherapy occurred in 7% of patients.[8 ,16 ]
  • Hairy cell leukemia. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment for more information.)
  • Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Waldenström macroglobulinemia has a natural history and therapeutic options similar to CLL, with the exception of hyperviscosity syndrome associated with macroglobulinemia as a result of elevated immunoglobulin M. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment for more information.)
  • Prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) is a rare form of lymphocytic leukemia characterized by excessive prolymphocytes in the blood with a typical phenotype that is positive for CD19, CD20, and surface-membrane immunoglobulin and negative for CD5. These patients demonstrate splenomegaly and poor response to low-dose or high-dose chemotherapy.[12 ,17 ]

    Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) appears to be an active agent (60% complete remission rate) for patients with de novo B-cell PLL.[18 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv] Alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 humanized monoclonal antibody, has been used for 76 patients with T-cell PLL after failure of previous chemotherapy (usually pentostatin or cladribine) with a 51% response rate (95% confidence interval, 40%–63%) and median time to progression of 4.5 months (range, 0.1–45.4 months).[19 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv] These response rates have been confirmed by other investigators.[20 ] Patients with CLL who show prolymphocytoid transformation maintain the classic CLL phenotype and have a worse prognosis than PLL patients.

  • Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is characterized by lymphocytosis with a natural killer cell immunophenotype (CD2, CD16, and CD56) or a T-cell immunophenotype (CD2, CD3, and CD8).[21 ,22 ,23 ] These patients often have neutropenia and a history of rheumatoid arthritis. The natural history is indolent, often marked by anemia and splenomegaly. This condition appears to fit into the clinical spectrum of Felty syndrome.[24 ] A characteristic genetic finding in almost 50% of the patients with T-cell LGL involves mutations in the STAT3 gene .[25 ] Therapy includes low doses of oral cyclophosphamide or methotrexate, cyclosporine, and treatment of the bacterial infections acquired during severe neutropenia.[21 ,23 ,26 ,27 ]

Prognostic Factors

Prognostic markers help stratify patients in clinical trials, assess the need for therapy, and select the type of therapy.[2 ,28 ,29 ] Prognostic factors that may help predict clinical outcome include cytogenetic subgroup, immunoglobulin mutational status, and CD38 immunophenotype.[2 ,30 ,31 ,32 ,33 ,34 ,35 ,36 ,37 ,38 ]

Prognostic markers include the following:

  • IgHV mutation.[31 ,32 ,33 ,38 ,39 ] The finding of significant numbers of mutations in this region is associated with a median survival in excess of 20 to 25 years. The absence of mutations is associated with a median survival of 8 to 10 years.
  • FISH test results. FISH chromosomal abnormalities were associated with prognosis in retrospective and prospective studies and clonal evolution has been seen over time.[30 ,40 ,41 ,42 ] The following chromosomal abnormalities have been reported:
    • 13q deletion is a favorable prognostic marker (with a 17-year median overall survival [OS] in a prospective study).[42 ]
    • Trisomy 12 and 11q deletion have a less favorable prognosis (with a 9- to 11-year median OS in a prospective study).[42 ]
    • 17p deletion is associated with mutated TP53 and with poor response rates and short duration of response to the standard therapeutic options.[38 ] 17p deletion is associated with the most unfavorable prognosis (with a 7-year median OS in one prospective trial).[42 ,43 ,44 ]
    • The combination of adverse cytogenetics, such as 11q deletion or 17p deletion (suggesting a worse prognosis), with ZAP-70 (zeta-chain-associated protein 70 kDa) negativity (suggesting a better prognosis) in the same patients resulted in a poor prognosis.[37 ]

    These findings emphasize the need for prospective studies of combinations of these prognostic markers.[45 ]

  • CD38 immunophenotype.[32 ,46 ] CD38 positivity (>30%) correlates with a worse prognosis, but there is a 30% false-positive rate and a 50% false-negative rate using IgHV mutational status as the gold standard for prognosis.

Other prognostic factors include the following:

  • Anemia and thrombocytopenia. These are important adverse prognostic variables, but only if due to extensive marrow involvement by CLL. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura do not confer a worse prognosis.
  • Age. CLL occurs primarily in middle-aged and elderly adults, with worse prognosis in successive decades of life.[41 ]
  • Stage.[47 ,48 ] (Refer to the Rai Staging System section and the Binet Classification section of this summary for more information.)
  • Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan results. This test should only be used in the context of recurrent fever, soaking night sweats, weight loss (>10% baseline weight in 6 months), or rapidly growing lymph nodes, because these findings might herald histologic transformation to a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (so-called Richter transformation). Of 432 patients retrospectively reviewed, 209 patients had a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 5 or higher.[49 ] Eighty percent of these patients had histologically aggressive CLL or Richter syndrome, and both of these entities had equally worse prognoses. When the SUVmax was 10 or higher, the 5-year OS rate was only 30%.[49 ]
  • Lymphocyte doubling time. Doubling of the white blood cell count in under 1 year implies a worse prognosis.[50 ]
  • Beta-2-microglobulin. Higher levels imply a worse prognosis.[51 ]
  • Richter transformation. Patients who develop an aggressive high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma, usually diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, have a poor prognosis.[52 ]
  • Clearance of minimal residual disease (MRD). The improvements in response rates from more intensive regimens have maximized the clearance of MRD. In one prospective trial of 493 patients, clearance of MRD was an independent predictor of OS by multivariate analysis.[53 ] The surrogate endpoint of clearance of residual disease, while prognostic,[53 ,54 ] did not show improved survival in a randomized prospective trial. The necessary study would include patients who fail to completely clear the marrow with induction therapy and randomly assign them to further alternative treatment versus the same treatment later at relapse, looking at OS as the primary endpoint.[28 ,55 ]
  • Other malignancies. Patients with CLL are also at increased risk for other malignancies, even before therapy.[56 ] A population-based analysis of almost 2 million cancer patients in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was performed. The findings suggested that cancer-specific survival for patients with pre-existing CLL who subsequently develop colorectal and breast cancer was significantly lower (hazard ratio [HR], 1.46; P < .001 for colorectal cancer and HR, 1.41; P = .005 for breast cancer) than cancer-specific survival for patients with colorectal and breast cancer who did not have antecedent CLL, after adjusting for age, sex, race, and disease stage, and excluding CLL-related deaths.[57 ]

An international prognostic index (IPI) for CLL (CLL-IPI) identified four prognostic subgroups on the basis of IgHV mutational status, clinical stage, age (≤65 years vs. >65 years), and TP53 status (no abnormalities vs. del17p or TP53 mutation or both).[58 ]

Follow-up After Treatment

CT scans have a very limited role in monitoring patients after completion of treatment; the decision to treat for relapse was determined by CT scan or ultrasound in only 2 of 176 patients in three prospective trials for the German CLL Study Group.[59 ]

References:

  1. American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts and Figures 2019. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society, 2019. Available online. Last accessed December 12, 2019.
  2. Dighiero G, Hamblin TJ: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Lancet 371 (9617): 1017-29, 2008.
  3. Anaissie EJ, Kontoyiannis DP, O'Brien S, et al.: Infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with fludarabine. Ann Intern Med 129 (7): 559-66, 1998.
  4. Mauro FR, Foa R, Cerretti R, et al.: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic features. Blood 95 (9): 2786-92, 2000.
  5. Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et al.: iwCLL guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of CLL. Blood 131 (25): 2745-2760, 2018.
  6. Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et al.: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a report from the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia updating the National Cancer Institute-Working Group 1996 guidelines. Blood 111 (12): 5446-56, 2008.
  7. Shanafelt TD, Kay NE, Jenkins G, et al.: B-cell count and survival: differentiating chronic lymphocytic leukemia from monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis based on clinical outcome. Blood 113 (18): 4188-96, 2009.
  8. Rawstron AC, Bennett FL, O'Connor SJ, et al.: Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 359 (6): 575-83, 2008.
  9. Dighiero G: Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis--a frequent premalignant condition. N Engl J Med 359 (6): 638-40, 2008.
  10. Fazi C, Scarfò L, Pecciarini L, et al.: General population low-count CLL-like MBL persists over time without clinical progression, although carrying the same cytogenetic abnormalities of CLL. Blood 118 (25): 6618-25, 2011.
  11. DiGiuseppe JA, Borowitz MJ: Clinical utility of flow cytometry in the chronic lymphoid leukemias. Semin Oncol 25 (1): 6-10, 1998.
  12. Rozman C, Montserrat E: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 333 (16): 1052-7, 1995.
  13. Landgren O, Albitar M, Ma W, et al.: B-cell clones as early markers for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 360 (7): 659-67, 2009.
  14. Hoyer JD, Ross CW, Li CY, et al.: True T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a morphologic and immunophenotypic study of 25 cases. Blood 86 (3): 1163-9, 1995.
  15. Strati P, Shanafelt TD: Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia: diagnosis, natural history, and risk stratification. Blood 126 (4): 454-62, 2015.
  16. Shanafelt TD, Kay NE, Rabe KG, et al.: Brief report: natural history of individuals with clinically recognized monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis compared with patients with Rai 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 27 (24): 3959-63, 2009.
  17. Melo JV, Catovsky D, Galton DA: The relationship between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and prolymphocytic leukaemia. I. Clinical and laboratory features of 300 patients and characterization of an intermediate group. Br J Haematol 63 (2): 377-87, 1986.
  18. Saven A, Lee T, Schlutz M, et al.: Major activity of cladribine in patients with de novo B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 15 (1): 37-43, 1997.
  19. Keating MJ, Cazin B, Coutré S, et al.: Campath-1H treatment of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia in patients for whom at least one prior chemotherapy regimen has failed. J Clin Oncol 20 (1): 205-13, 2002.
  20. Dearden CE, Matutes E, Catovsky D: Alemtuzumab in T-cell malignancies. Med Oncol 19 (Suppl): S27-32, 2002.
  21. Sokol L, Loughran TP: Large granular lymphocyte leukemia. Oncologist 11 (3): 263-73, 2006.
  22. Semenzato G, Zambello R, Starkebaum G, et al.: The lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes: updated criteria for diagnosis. Blood 89 (1): 256-60, 1997.
  23. Lamy T, Loughran TP: How I treat LGL leukemia. Blood 117 (10): 2764-74, 2011.
  24. Bowman SJ, Sivakumaran M, Snowden N, et al.: The large granular lymphocyte syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis. Immunogenetic evidence for a broader definition of Felty's syndrome. Arthritis Rheum 37 (9): 1326-30, 1994.
  25. Koskela HL, Eldfors S, Ellonen P, et al.: Somatic STAT3 mutations in large granular lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 366 (20): 1905-13, 2012.
  26. Loughran TP, Kidd PG, Starkebaum G: Treatment of large granular lymphocyte leukemia with oral low-dose methotrexate. Blood 84 (7): 2164-70, 1994.
  27. Dhodapkar MV, Li CY, Lust JA, et al.: Clinical spectrum of clonal proliferations of T-large granular lymphocytes: a T-cell clonopathy of undetermined significance? Blood 84 (5): 1620-7, 1994.
  28. Developments in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders: rising to the new challenges of CLL therapy. A report of a symposium presented during the 48th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 8, 2006, Orlando, Florida. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol 5 (3 Suppl 5): 1-14; quiz 15-6, 2007.
  29. Pflug N, Bahlo J, Shanafelt TD, et al.: Development of a comprehensive prognostic index for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 124 (1): 49-62, 2014.
  30. Döhner H, Stilgenbauer S, Benner A, et al.: Genomic aberrations and survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 343 (26): 1910-6, 2000.
  31. Hamblin TJ, Davis Z, Gardiner A, et al.: Unmutated Ig V(H) genes are associated with a more aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 94 (6): 1848-54, 1999.
  32. Damle RN, Wasil T, Fais F, et al.: Ig V gene mutation status and CD38 expression as novel prognostic indicators in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 94 (6): 1840-7, 1999.
  33. Rosenwald A, Alizadeh AA, Widhopf G, et al.: Relation of gene expression phenotype to immunoglobulin mutation genotype in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Exp Med 194 (11): 1639-47, 2001.
  34. Klein U, Tu Y, Stolovitzky GA, et al.: Gene expression profiling of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia reveals a homogeneous phenotype related to memory B cells. J Exp Med 194 (11): 1625-38, 2001.
  35. Orchard JA, Ibbotson RE, Davis Z, et al.: ZAP-70 expression and prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Lancet 363 (9403): 105-11, 2004.
  36. Rassenti LZ, Huynh L, Toy TL, et al.: ZAP-70 compared with immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene mutation status as a predictor of disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 351 (9): 893-901, 2004.
  37. Kröber A, Bloehdorn J, Hafner S, et al.: Additional genetic high-risk features such as 11q deletion, 17p deletion, and V3-21 usage characterize discordance of ZAP-70 and VH mutation status in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 24 (6): 969-75, 2006.
  38. Byrd JC, Gribben JG, Peterson BL, et al.: Select high-risk genetic features predict earlier progression following chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine and rituximab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: justification for risk-adapted therapy. J Clin Oncol 24 (3): 437-43, 2006.
  39. Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Chavez JC, Khorfan KA, et al.: Clinical and therapeutic implications of the mutational status of IgVH in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer 113 (5): 897-906, 2008.
  40. Kröber A, Seiler T, Benner A, et al.: V(H) mutation status, CD38 expression level, genomic aberrations, and survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 100 (4): 1410-6, 2002.
  41. Catovsky D, Fooks J, Richards S: Prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: the importance of age, sex and response to treatment in survival. A report from the MRC CLL 1 trial. MRC Working Party on Leukaemia in Adults. Br J Haematol 72 (2): 141-9, 1989.
  42. Shanafelt TD, Witzig TE, Fink SR, et al.: Prospective evaluation of clonal evolution during long-term follow-up of patients with untreated early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 24 (28): 4634-41, 2006.
  43. Grever MR, Lucas DM, Dewald GW, et al.: Comprehensive assessment of genetic and molecular features predicting outcome in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results from the US Intergroup Phase III Trial E2997. J Clin Oncol 25 (7): 799-804, 2007.
  44. Catovsky D, Richards S, Matutes E, et al.: Assessment of fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (the LRF CLL4 Trial): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 370 (9583): 230-9, 2007.
  45. Binet JL, Caligaris-Cappio F, Catovsky D, et al.: Perspectives on the use of new diagnostic tools in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 107 (3): 859-61, 2006.
  46. Ghia P, Guida G, Stella S, et al.: The pattern of CD38 expression defines a distinct subset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients at risk of disease progression. Blood 101 (4): 1262-9, 2003.
  47. Rai KR, Sawitsky A, Cronkite EP, et al.: Clinical staging of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 46 (2): 219-34, 1975.
  48. Binet JL, Auquier A, Dighiero G, et al.: A new prognostic classification of chronic lymphocytic leukemia derived from a multivariate survival analysis. Cancer 48 (1): 198-206, 1981.
  49. Falchi L, Keating MJ, Marom EM, et al.: Correlation between FDG/PET, histology, characteristics, and survival in 332 patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia. Blood 123 (18): 2783-90, 2014.
  50. Montserrat E, Sanchez-Bisono J, Viñolas N, et al.: Lymphocyte doubling time in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: analysis of its prognostic significance. Br J Haematol 62 (3): 567-75, 1986.
  51. Di Giovanni S, Valentini G, Carducci P, et al.: Beta-2-microglobulin is a reliable tumor marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Acta Haematol 81 (4): 181-5, 1989.
  52. Tsimberidou AM, Keating MJ: Richter syndrome: biology, incidence, and therapeutic strategies. Cancer 103 (2): 216-28, 2005.
  53. Böttcher S, Ritgen M, Fischer K, et al.: Minimal residual disease quantification is an independent predictor of progression-free and overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a multivariate analysis from the randomized GCLLSG CLL8 trial. J Clin Oncol 30 (9): 980-8, 2012.
  54. Strati P, Keating MJ, O'Brien SM, et al.: Eradication of bone marrow minimal residual disease may prompt early treatment discontinuation in CLL. Blood 123 (24): 3727-32, 2014.
  55. Montserrat E, Moreno C, Esteve J, et al.: How I treat refractory CLL. Blood 107 (4): 1276-83, 2006.
  56. Tsimberidou AM, Wen S, McLaughlin P, et al.: Other malignancies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 27 (6): 904-10, 2009.
  57. Solomon BM, Rabe KG, Slager SL, et al.: Overall and cancer-specific survival of patients with breast, colon, kidney, and lung cancers with and without chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a SEER population-based study. J Clin Oncol 31 (7): 930-7, 2013.
  58. International CLL-IPI working group: An international prognostic index for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL-IPI): a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Lancet Oncol 17 (6): 779-90, 2016.
  59. Eichhorst BF, Fischer K, Fink AM, et al.: Limited clinical relevance of imaging techniques in the follow-up of patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results of a meta-analysis. Blood 117 (6): 1817-21, 2011.

Stage Information for CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) does not have a standard staging system. The Rai staging system (Table 1) and the Binet classification (Table 2) are presented below.[1 ,2 ] A National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored working group has formulated standardized guidelines for criteria related to eligibility, response, and toxic effects to be used in future clinical trials in CLL.[3 ]

Rai Staging System

Table 1. Rai Staging System
Stage Stage Criteria
Stage 0 Absolute lymphocytosis (>15,000/mm3) without adenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, or thrombocytopenia.
Stage I Absolute lymphocytosis with lymphadenopathy without hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, or thrombocytopenia.
Stage II Absolute lymphocytosis with either hepatomegaly or splenomegaly with or without lymphadenopathy.
Stage III Absolute lymphocytosis and anemia (hemoglobin <11 g/dL) with or without lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, or splenomegaly.
Stage IV Absolute lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm3) with or without lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, or anemia.

Binet Classification

Table 2. Binet Classification System
Stage Stage Criteria
a Lymphoid areas include cervical, axillary, inguinal, and splenic.
Clinical stage Aa No anemia or thrombocytopenia and fewer than three areas of lymphoid involvement (Rai stages 0, I, and II).
Clinical stage Ba No anemia or thrombocytopenia with three or more areas of lymphoid involvement (Rai stages I and II).
Clinical stage C Anemia and/or thrombocytopenia regardless of the number of areas of lymphoid enlargement (Rai stages III and IV).

The Binet classification integrates the number of disease-involved nodal groups with bone marrow failure. Its major benefit derives from the recognition of a predominantly splenic form of the disease, which may have a better prognosis than was recognized in the Rai staging, and from the recognition that the presence of anemia or thrombocytopenia has a similar prognosis and does not merit a separate stage. Neither system separates immune from nonimmune causes of cytopenia. Patients with thrombocytopenia, anemia, or both, which is caused by extensive marrow infiltration and impaired production (Rai III/IV, Binet C), have a poorer prognosis than patients with immune cytopenias.[4 ]

The International Workshop on CLL has recommended integrating the Rai and Binet systems as follows: A(0), A(I), A(II); B(I), B(II); and C(III), C(IV).[5 ] The NCI-sponsored working group has published guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of CLL in both clinical trial and general practice settings.[3 ] Use of these systems allows comparison of clinical results and establishment of therapeutic guidelines.

References:

  1. Rai KR, Sawitsky A, Cronkite EP, et al.: Clinical staging of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 46 (2): 219-34, 1975.
  2. Binet JL, Auquier A, Dighiero G, et al.: A new prognostic classification of chronic lymphocytic leukemia derived from a multivariate survival analysis. Cancer 48 (1): 198-206, 1981.
  3. Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et al.: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a report from the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia updating the National Cancer Institute-Working Group 1996 guidelines. Blood 111 (12): 5446-56, 2008.
  4. Moreno C, Hodgson K, Ferrer G, et al.: Autoimmune cytopenia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: prevalence, clinical associations, and prognostic significance. Blood 116 (23): 4771-6, 2010.
  5. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: recommendations for diagnosis, staging, and response criteria. International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Ann Intern Med 110 (3): 236-8, 1989.

Selection of Therapy for CLL

Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) must be individualized on the basis of the clinical behavior of the disease.[1 ] Because this disease is generally not curable, occurs in an elderly population, and often progresses slowly, it is most often treated in a conservative fashion.[2 ]

In older trials with data collected from the 1970s through the 1990s, the median survival for all patients ranged from 8 to 12 years.[3 ,4 ] However, with the introduction of the B-cell receptor inhibitors and targeting of BCL2, the median survival for all patients has not been reached with over 10 years of follow-up.

Treatment of CLL ranges from observation with treatment of infectious, hemorrhagic, or immunologic complications to a variety of therapeutic options administered as single agents or combination therapy, including the following:[2 ]

  • B-cell receptor inhibitors, such as ibrutinib (a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor).
  • BCL2-targeting agents, such as venetoclax.
  • Monoclonal antibodies (e.g., rituximab, obinutuzumab, ofatumumab).
  • Combination chemotherapy of a monoclonal antibody with bendamustine or fludarabine and/or cyclophosphamide.
  • Alkylating agents (e.g., bendamustine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide).
  • Immunomodulating agents, such as lenalidomide.
  • Transplant options.

In asymptomatic patients, treatment may be deferred until the disease progresses and symptoms occur.[3 ] Because the rate of progression may vary from patient to patient, with long periods of stability and sometimes spontaneous regressions, frequent and careful observation is required to monitor the clinical course.[5 ] Although even asymptomatic patients with 17p deletion on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis (or TP53 mutation) may be followed with watchful waiting, frequent monitoring may be required to avert rapid progression. A meta-analysis of randomized trials showed no survival benefit for immediate versus delayed therapy for patients with early-stage disease.[6 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA] For patients with progressing CLL, treatment will not be curative in most cases. Selected patients treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation have achieved prolonged disease-free survival (DFS); sometimes exceeding 20 years.[7 ,8 ,9 ,10 ,11 ] Prolonged DFS was also noted in young patients (<60 years) with IgHV hypermutation who received the FCR regimen (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab).[12 ,13 ,14 ]

The following clinical factors may be helpful in predicting progression of disease:[2 ]

  • IgHV gene mutation.
  • Chromosomal abnormalities by FISH analysis or cytogenetics.
  • Beta-2-microglobulin.
  • Lymphocyte doubling time.

Adverse Sequelae of the Disease and Therapy

Infectious complications in advanced disease are in part a consequence of the hypogammaglobulinemia and the inability to mount a humoral defense against bacterial or viral agents. Herpes zoster represents a frequent viral infection in these patients, but infections with Pneumocystis carinii and Candida albicans may also occur. The early recognition of infections and the institution of appropriate therapy are critical to the long-term survival of these patients. A randomized study of intravenous immunoglobulin (400 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 1 year) in patients with CLL and hypogammaglobulinemia produced significantly fewer bacterial infections and a significant delay in onset of first infection during the study period.[15 ] There was, however, no effect on survival. Routine chronic administration of intravenous immunoglobulin is expensive, and the long-term benefit (>1 year) is unproven.[16 ,17 ]

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and/or thrombocytopenia can occur in patients with any stage of CLL.[18 ] Initial therapy involves corticosteroids with or without alkylating agents (fludarabine can worsen the hemolytic anemia). It is often necessary to control the autoimmune destruction with corticosteroids, if possible, before administering marrow-suppressive chemotherapy because it may be difficult for a patient to successfully receive a red blood cell or platelet transfusion. Alternate therapies include high-dose immune globulin, rituximab, cyclosporine, azathioprine, splenectomy, and low-dose radiation therapy to the spleen.[3 ,19 ] Tumor lysis syndrome is an uncommon complication (presenting in 1 of 300 patients) of chemotherapy for patients with bulky disease.[20 ]

Second malignancies and treatment-induced acute leukemias may also occur in a small percentage of patients.[21 ] Transformation of CLL to diffuse large cell lymphoma (Richter syndrome) carries a poor prognosis with a median survival of less than 1 year, although 20% of the patients may live more than 5 years after aggressive combination chemotherapy.[22 ] (Refer to the PDQ summary on Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment for more information.)

Considerations for the Selection of Therapy

The following general principles may provide a sequencing for available therapeutic options:

  • Despite many therapeutic options, asymptomatic or minimally affected patients with CLL are often offered observation outside the context of a clinical trial. Therapy often begins when patients develop profound cytopenias, or when symptoms, such as enlarging bulky lymphadenopathy or debilitating symptoms, substantially impact their quality of life.
  • Because nontransplant curative therapy has not been found, the initial goal of therapy is to maximize efficacy (with improvement of overall survival), while introducing the least overall short- and long-term toxicity.
  • Of the new biologic agents, ibrutinib and venetoclax are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for first-line use in newly diagnosed patients with CLL who require therapy.[23 ] In patients with adverse prognostic factors (especially 17p deletion or mutated TP53) ibrutinib or venetoclax should be considered.
  • Standard chemotherapeutic agents, such as fludarabine, bendamustine, cyclophosphamide, and chlorambucil, induce mutational damage to the genome that can manifest as more aggressive and refractory phenotypes upon relapse and can induce second malignancies. Yet, prolonged DFS (over 10 years) can be seen with the use of the FCR regimen in younger patients (<60 years) with IgHV hypermutation.[12 ,13 ,14 ]
    • Avoiding alkylating agents and purine analogs also prevents prolonged cytopenias and the recurrent, long-lasting, and sometimes fatal infections seen after therapy with these agents.
    • Avoiding chemotherapeutic agents upfront, when possible, is a new paradigm of sequencing therapy for CLL.
  • Older patients with comorbidities may better tolerate the newer biologic agents (such as ibrutinib or venetoclax), monoclonal antibody therapy alone (such as high-dose rituximab), or dose modification of standard chemotherapeutic agents combined with rituximab. For older patients (>65 years), the combination of rituximab plus bendamustine (BR regimen) resulted in fewer adverse events and better outcomes than the FCR regimen.[24 ]

References:

  1. Montserrat E: CLL therapy: progress at last! Blood 105 (1): 2-3, 2005.
  2. Gribben JG, O'Brien S: Update on therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 29 (5): 544-50, 2011.
  3. Rozman C, Montserrat E: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 333 (16): 1052-7, 1995.
  4. Wierda WG, O'Brien S, Wang X, et al.: Prognostic nomogram and index for overall survival in previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 109 (11): 4679-85, 2007.
  5. Del Giudice I, Chiaretti S, Tavolaro S, et al.: Spontaneous regression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: clinical and biologic features of 9 cases. Blood 114 (3): 638-46, 2009.
  6. Chemotherapeutic options in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a meta-analysis of the randomized trials. CLL Trialists' Collaborative Group. J Natl Cancer Inst 91 (10): 861-8, 1999.
  7. Ritgen M, Stilgenbauer S, von Neuhoff N, et al.: Graft-versus-leukemia activity may overcome therapeutic resistance of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with unmutated immunoglobulin variable heavy-chain gene status: implications of minimal residual disease measurement with quantitative PCR. Blood 104 (8): 2600-2, 2004.
  8. Moreno C, Villamor N, Colomer D, et al.: Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation may overcome the adverse prognosis of unmutated VH gene in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 23 (15): 3433-8, 2005.
  9. Khouri IF, Keating MJ, Saliba RM, et al.: Long-term follow-up of patients with CLL treated with allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation. Cytotherapy 4 (3): 217-21, 2002.
  10. Doney KC, Chauncey T, Appelbaum FR, et al.: Allogeneic related donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Bone Marrow Transplant 29 (10): 817-23, 2002.
  11. Pavletic SZ, Khouri IF, Haagenson M, et al.: Unrelated donor marrow transplantation for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia after using myeloablative conditioning: results from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant research. J Clin Oncol 23 (24): 5788-94, 2005.
  12. Thompson PA, Tam CS, O'Brien SM, et al.: Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab treatment achieves long-term disease-free survival in IGHV-mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 127 (3): 303-9, 2016.
  13. Fischer K, Bahlo J, Fink AM, et al.: Long-term remissions after FCR chemoimmunotherapy in previously untreated patients with CLL: updated results of the CLL8 trial. Blood 127 (2): 208-15, 2016.
  14. Rossi D, Terzi-di-Bergamo L, De Paoli L, et al.: Molecular prediction of durable remission after first-line fludarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 126 (16): 1921-4, 2015.
  15. Intravenous immunoglobulin for the prevention of infection in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A randomized, controlled clinical trial. Cooperative Group for the Study of Immunoglobulin in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 319 (14): 902-7, 1988.
  16. Griffiths H, Brennan V, Lea J, et al.: Crossover study of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with low-grade B-cell tumors. Blood 73 (2): 366-8, 1989.
  17. Weeks JC, Tierney MR, Weinstein MC: Cost effectiveness of prophylactic intravenous immune globulin in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 325 (2): 81-6, 1991.
  18. Mauro FR, Foa R, Cerretti R, et al.: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic features. Blood 95 (9): 2786-92, 2000.
  19. Kaufman M, Limaye SA, Driscoll N, et al.: A combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone effectively treats immune cytopenias of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 50 (6): 892-9, 2009.
  20. Cheson BD, Frame JN, Vena D, et al.: Tumor lysis syndrome: an uncommon complication of fludarabine therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 16 (7): 2313-20, 1998.
  21. Maddocks-Christianson K, Slager SL, Zent CS, et al.: Risk factors for development of a second lymphoid malignancy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Br J Haematol 139 (3): 398-404, 2007.
  22. Robertson LE, Pugh W, O'Brien S, et al.: Richter's syndrome: a report on 39 patients. J Clin Oncol 11 (10): 1985-9, 1993.
  23. Burger JA, Tedeschi A, Barr PM, et al.: Ibrutinib as Initial Therapy for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 373 (25): 2425-37, 2015.
  24. Eichhorst B, Fink AM, Bahlo J, et al.: First-line chemoimmunotherapy with bendamustine and rituximab versus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab in patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL10): an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol 17 (7): 928-942, 2016.

Asymptomatic CLL Treatment

Treatment options for asymptomatic or minimally affected patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) include the following:

  1. Observation.[1 ,2 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA] (Refer to the Observation section of this summary for more information.)

    Despite many therapeutic options, observation should be considered for asymptomatic or minimally affected patients, even in the context of adverse prognostic findings. Therapy begins when patients develop profound cytopenias or when symptoms adversely impact quality of life.

  2. Clinical trials will need to establish improved outcomes using the newer biologic therapies in asymptomatic patients before observation or watchful waiting is abandoned.

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

References:

  1. Chemotherapeutic options in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a meta-analysis of the randomized trials. CLL Trialists' Collaborative Group. J Natl Cancer Inst 91 (10): 861-8, 1999.
  2. Dighiero G, Maloum K, Desablens B, et al.: Chlorambucil in indolent chronic lymphocytic leukemia. French Cooperative Group on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 338 (21): 1506-14, 1998.

Symptomatic or Progressive CLL Treatment

Symptomatic or progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is defined as the following by the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia:[1 ]

  • Evidence of progressive marrow failure—the development of, or worsening of, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia (in some patients, platelet counts <100 × 109 /L may remain stable over a long period; this does not automatically require therapeutic intervention). Cutoff levels of hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL or platelet counts less than 100 × 109 /L are generally regarded as an indication for treatment.
  • Massive (i.e., ≥6 cm below the left costal margin), progressive, or symptomatic splenomegaly.
  • Massive nodes (i.e., ≥10 cm in longest diameter), progressive, or symptomatic lymphadenopathy.
  • Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of 50% or more over a 2-month period, or lymphocyte-doubling time (LDT) less than 6 months. LDT can be obtained by linear regression extrapolation of absolute lymphocyte counts obtained at intervals of 2 weeks over an observation period of 2 to 3 months; patients with initial blood lymphocyte counts less than 30 × 109 /L may require a longer observation period to determine the LDT. Factors contributing to lymphocytosis other than CLL (e.g., infections or steroid administration) should be excluded.
  • Autoimmune complications, including anemia or thrombocytopenia that respond poorly to corticosteroids.
  • Symptomatic or functional extranodal involvement (e.g., skin, kidney, lung, or spine). Disease-related symptoms defined as any of the following:
    • Unintentional weight loss of 10% or more within the previous 6 months.
    • Significant fatigue (i.e., Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scale 2 or worse, cannot work, or unable to perform usual activities).
    • Fevers of 100.5°F or 38.0°C or higher for 2 or more weeks without evidence of infection.
    • Night sweats for at least 1 month without evidence of infection.

Older patients with comorbidities may better tolerate the newer biologic agents (such as ibrutinib or venetoclax), monoclonal antibody therapy alone (such as high-dose rituximab), or dose modification of standard chemotherapeutic agents combined with rituximab. For older patients (>65 years), the combination of rituximab plus bendamustine (BR regimen) resulted in fewer adverse events and better outcomes than fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide plus rituximab (FCR regimen).[2 ]

As mentioned previously, there are multiple initial treatment options for symptomatic and progressive CLL and most have not been compared in randomized trials. (Refer to the Description of Treatments for CLL section of this summary for more information.)

Treatment options for patients with symptomatic or progressive CLL include the following:

  1. Observation.
  2. Ibrutinib.
  3. Venetoclax
  4. Rituximab or obinutuzumab alone or with chemotherapy.
  5. Lenalidomide.
  6. Idelalisib or duvelisib.
  7. Involved-field radiation therapy.
  8. Ofatumumab.
  9. Bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation.
  10. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
  11. Alemtuzumab.

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

References:

  1. Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et al.: iwCLL guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of CLL. Blood 131 (25): 2745-2760, 2018.
  2. Eichhorst B, Fink AM, Bahlo J, et al.: First-line chemoimmunotherapy with bendamustine and rituximab versus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab in patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL10): an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol 17 (7): 928-942, 2016.

Recurrent or Refractory CLL Treatment

Patients with recurrent or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are eligible for clinical trials or can be offered alternative therapies as described in the section for symptomatic or progressive CLL. (Refer to the Description of Treatments for CLL section of this summary for a description of each therapy.)

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

Description of Treatments for CLL

Observation

Because of its indolent nature, treatment for asymptomatic or minimally affected patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with chemotherapy is not indicated, and observation is the generally accepted approach.[1 ] Because the rate of progression may vary, with long periods of stability and sometimes spontaneous regressions, frequent and careful observation is required to monitor the clinical course. One nomogram to predict time-to-first treatment relies on the number of lymph node sites, size of cervical lymph nodes, lactate-dehydrogenase level, the IgHV mutational status, and the presence of 11q deletion or 17p deletion established by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.[2 ]

Evidence (observation):

  1. The French Cooperative Group on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia randomly assigned 1,535 patients with previously untreated stage A disease to receive either chlorambucil or no immediate treatment.[3 ]
    • The results showed no survival advantage for immediate treatment with chlorambucil.[3 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
  2. A meta-analysis evaluated six trials of patients with early-stage CLL that involved immediate versus deferred therapy with chlorambucil (including the aforementioned trial by the French Cooperative Group).[4 ]
    • The results showed no difference in overall survival (OS) at 10 years.[4 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]

No clinical trial results confirm that immediate treatment of asymptomatic or minimally affected patients with the B-cell receptor inhibitors or BCL2 inhibitors is superior to observation until symptoms develop, with subsequent therapy applied at progression.

Ibrutinib

Ibrutinib is a selective irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a signaling molecule located upstream in the B-cell receptor-signaling cascade. Trials of previously untreated patients and of patients with relapsed or refractory CLL showed durable responses to the oral agent in phase I and II studies.[5 ,6 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii]

The following trials establish the rationale for first-line use of ibrutinib in patients with CLL, especially for high-risk patients with 17p deletion disease. These trials also establish the use of ibrutinib for patients with relapsed disease. After one cycle of ibrutinib at the standard dose of 420 mg/day, doses may be safely reduced (usually due to toxicity) without losing biologic activity.[7 ]

Evidence (ibrutinib):

  1. A prospective randomized 2:1 trial (NCT02048813) of 529 patients previously untreated for CLL compared ibrutinib and rituximab followed by ibrutinib maintenance in 354 patients versus six cycles of FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab) in 175 patients.[8 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 33.6 months, the 3-year OS rate favored the ibrutinib arm (98.8% vs. 91.5%) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05–0.54; P < .001).[8 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
  2. A prospective, randomized trial of 269 previously untreated patients who were aged 65 years or older compared ibrutinib with chlorambucil.[9 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 18 months, the 2-year OS rate favored ibrutinib (98% vs. 85%) (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05–0.56; P = .001).[9 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
  3. A prospective trial of 547 previously untreated patients aged 65 years or older randomly assigned patients to BR (bendamustine and rituximab) versus ibrutinib alone versus ibrutinib plus rituximab.[10 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 38 months, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 74% for BR and significantly lower than ibrutinib alone at 87% (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25–0.58), and significantly lower than ibrutinib plus rituximab at 88% (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.25–0.59, P < .001).[10 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]
    • There was no difference between the PFS of the two ibrutinib groups (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.62–1.62, P = .49) and no difference in OS between each of the groups.
  4. A prospective, randomized trial of 391 patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) compared ibrutinib with ofatumumab.[11 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 9.4 months, the 12-month OS rate favored ibrutinib (90% vs. 81%) (HR, 0.43; P = .005).[11 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
    • Similar outcomes were seen for patients whose disease was resistant to purine analogs or who had a chromosome 17p deletion.[11 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
  5. A phase Ib/II trial (NCT01105247) of 132 patients treated with ibrutinib included patients who were tested using FISH for 17p deletion or unmutated IgHV.[12 ]
    • A 5-year PFS rate of 92% in treatment-naïve patients and 44% in patients with relapsed/refractory disease was observed in those receiving ibrutinib.[13 ]
    • The PFS was 26 months for patients with 17p deletion and 43 months for patients with unmutated IgHV.
    • Patients who discontinued ibrutinib early because of disease progression or drug intolerance had very poor outcomes, which were mainly attributable to very poor pre-existing prognostic factors.[14 ,15 ]
  6. A prospective, randomized trial of 578 previously treated patients compared ibrutinib plus bendamustine plus rituximab with bendamustine plus rituximab.[16 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 17 months, PFS favored the ibrutinib-combination arm at 18 months (79% vs. 24%) (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.15–0.27; P = .0001).[16 ][Level of evidence: 1iDiii]
  7. A phase II, multicenter study (NCT01744691) included 144 patients with relapsed or refractory disease with 17p deletion disease.[17 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 27.6 months, the objective response rate was 83% (95% CI, 76%–89%), 2-year PFS rate was 63% (95% CI, 54%–70%), and 2-year OS rate was 75% (67%–81%).[17 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii]

These trials establish the use of ibrutinib in both previously untreated patients and previously treated patients with CLL.

Venetoclax

Venetoclax is a highly selective inhibitor of BCL2. In the relapsed setting with 17p deletion, several phase II studies showed an 80% response rate and a 50% to 60% 2- to 3-year PFS rate.[18 ,19 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii]

  1. In a prospective trial, 432 previously untreated patients with significant medical comorbidities (6 or higher on the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale; median age, 72 years) were randomly assigned to venetoclax plus obinutuzumab (the human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) versus chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab.[20 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 28.1 months, the 2-year PFS rate was significantly higher for venetoclax plus obinutuzumab 88.2% (95% CI, 83.7%–92.6%) compared with 64.1% for chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab (95% CI, 57.4%–70.8%) (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.23–0.53, P < .001).[20 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]
  2. In a prospective trial, 389 patients with relapsed or refractory CLL were randomly assigned to venetoclax (2 years) plus rituximab (first 6 months) versus BR for 6 months.
    • With a median follow-up of 24 months, the 2-year PFS rate was 84.9% for venetoclax plus rituximab versus 36.3% for BR (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.11–0.25, P < .001).[21 ,22 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]
    • The HR for this comparison was 0.13 for those with 17p deletion and 0.19 for those without 17p deletion.
    • The 2-year OS rate in the venetoclax and rituximab arm was 91.9% compared with 86.6% for BR (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25–0.90), but more follow-up is required after more adverse events.

    In the relapsed setting, venetoclax showed similar efficacy and safety even after previous therapy with ibrutinib or idelalisib (the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta inhibitor).[23 ,24 ]

  3. In a phase II trial, 80 previously untreated patients who were aged 65 or older or had high-risk disease were treated with ibrutinib for 3 months followed by combined ibrutinib plus venetoclax for a total of 24 months.[25 ]
    • The 1-year response rate was 88%, the PFS rate was 98% (95% CI, 94%–100%), and the OS rate was 99% (95% CI, 96%–100%).[25 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv]
    • The toxicity of the combination is similar to either agent alone and avoids the tumor lysis syndrome seen when starting with venetoclax.

These trials establish the use of venetoclax in previously untreated patients and previously treated patients with CLL. Unlike ibrutinib, which is applied continuously until relapse, venetoclax may be stopped after 18 to 24 months with durable maintenance of remission. Venetoclax can be subsequently reapplied with success, if needed. The combination of venetoclax and ibrutinib needs to be evaluated in prospective randomized trials versus either agent alone. The considerable financial toxicity mandates verification of efficacy.

In a retrospective review of 436 patients in four trials, patients with bulky adenopathy, TP53 mutations, NOTCH1 mutations, and refractory disease after other B-cell receptor inhibitors (such as ibrutinib or idelalisib) had less durable responses to venetoclax.[26 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv]

Rituximab or Obinutuzumab Alone or With Chemotherapy

Rituximab is a murine anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody.[27 ,28 ,29 ,30 ,31 ] When used alone, higher doses of rituximab or increased frequency or duration of therapy is required for comparable responses to those seen for other indolent lymphomas. Obinutuzumab is a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody.

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) regimen

FCR is used for patients with IgHV hypermutation. Several trials used FCR for fit patients with mutated IgHV who required therapy. The PFS rate exceeded 60% at more than 10 years.[32 ,33 ,34 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii] Nonetheless, late relapses were seen beyond 10 years. Several ongoing trials are comparing FCR and ibrutinib (the United Kingdom FLAIR trial and ECOG 1912 trial [NCT02048813]) and comparing rituximab plus ibrutinib versus BR (North American Intergroup trial). The use of FCR or BR instead of the newer biologic agents remains controversial and awaits the results of these trials.

Evidence (FCR regimen):[32 ,35 ,36 ,37 ,38 ]

  1. A trial of 817 patients with CLL compared FCR with fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide (FC).[37 ]
    • At a median follow-up of 5.9 years, the rituximab combination showed improved OS at 6 years (69% vs. 62%) (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54–0.89; P = .001).[37 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
    • A cumulative incidence of 6% to 8% for myelodysplasia was seen at 5 to 7 years in patients who received FC, with or without rituximab.[39 ,40 ]

Bendamustine and rituximab (BR) regimen

Bendamustine is a cytotoxic agent with bifunctional properties of an alkylator and a purine analog.[41 ] In previously treated and untreated patients, BR has shown response rates of around 70% to 90%.[42 ,43 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii]

Evidence (BR regimen):

  1. The German CLL Study Group compared BR versus FCR as first-line therapy in patients with CLL who required therapy.[44 ]
    • With a 37.1-month median follow-up, the median PFS was better for FCR (55.2 months vs. 41.7 months) (HR, 1.64; 90% CI, 1.31–2.06; P = .001), but there was no difference in OS at 3 years (91% vs. 92%, not significant).[44 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]
    • In patients older than 65 years, there was no difference in PFS between the two arms, but more infections occurred with FCR than with BR (grade 3 to 5 infection, 47% vs. 27%).

Rituximab

Evidence (rituximab):

  1. Two prospective trials encompassed 805 patients in partial or complete response after a first course or second course of induction therapy who were then randomly assigned to 2 years of maintenance therapy with rituximab versus observation.[45 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 34 to 47 months, median PFS favored the rituximab arm at 47.0 to 59.3 months versus 35.5 to 49.0 months (HR, 0.50 to 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.40–0.75; P = .0008), but with no difference in OS.[45 ,46 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]

Obinutuzumab

Evidence (obinutuzumab):

  1. In a randomized prospective trial (NCT01010061), 781 previously untreated patients with coexisting medical problems were randomly assigned to one of the following arms:[47 ]
    1. Chlorambucil and obinutuzumab.
    2. Chlorambucil and rituximab.
    3. Chlorambucil alone.

    The findings were as follows:

    • The median PFS was best for the chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab arm (26.7 months) compared with the chlorambucil-alone arm (11.1 months) (HR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.13–0.24; P < .001). The median PFS was 16.3 months for the chlorambucil plus rituximab arm versus 11.1 months for the chlorambucil-alone arm (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.34–0.57; P < .001).[47 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
    • The 2-year OS rate was significantly improved for the chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab arm (91%) versus the chlorambucil-alone arm (80%) (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23–0.74; P = .002). Patients who received chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab did not have improved survival compared with those who received chlorambucil plus rituximab.[47 ][Level of evidence: 1iiA]

As with rituximab, obinutuzumab can be combined with other biologic agents or with cytotoxic agents.[20 ]

Lenalidomide

Lenalidomide is an oral immunomodulatory agent with response rates of more than 50%, with or without rituximab, for patients with previously treated and untreated disease.[48 ,49 ,50 ,51 ,52 ,53 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv] Prolonged, lower-dose approaches and attention to prevention of tumor lysis syndrome are suggested with this agent.[48 ,54 ] Combination therapy and long-term toxicities from using lenalidomide (such as increased myelodysplasia, as seen in myeloma patients) remain undefined for patients with CLL.

Idelalisib or Duvelisib

Idelalisib is an oral inhibitor of the delta isoform of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K inhibitor), which is in the B-cell receptor-signaling cascade. Duvelisib is an oral dual inhibitor of the delta and gamma isoforms of PI3K.

  1. In a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial (NCT01539512), 220 patients treated mainly with fludarabine-based regimens and who had coexisting medical problems, such as renal dysfunction, received rituximab and idelalisib versus rituximab and placebo.[55 ]
    • With a median follow-up of less than 1 year, the PFS rate at 24 weeks favored the rituximab and idelalisib arm (93%) versus the rituximab and placebo arm (46%) (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08–0.28; P < .001).[55 ][Level of evidence: 1iA]
    • The OS rate at 1 year was significantly better for the rituximab and idelalisib arm (92%) versus the rituximab and placebo arm (80%) (HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.09–0.86; P = .02).[55 ][Level of evidence: 1iA]
    • With a median follow-up of 18 months, this trial demonstrated significantly better median OS for rituximab and idelalisib at 40.6 months (95% CI, 28.5–57.3 months) versus 34.6 months (95% CI, 16.0–not reached) for rituximab and placebo.[56 ][Level of evidence: 1iA]
  2. In 64 previously untreated patients, the combination of idelalisib plus rituximab resulted in a PFS rate of 83% at 3 years.[57 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii]
  3. In a prospective trial, 319 patients with relapsed and refractory CLL/SLL were randomly assigned to receive duvelisib versus ofatumumab.[58 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 24 months, the median PFS was significantly higher for duvelisib at 13.3 months versus 9.9 months (HR, 0.52; P < .0001).

Involved-Field Radiation Therapy

Relatively low doses of radiation therapy can be applied to problematic areas of lymphadenopathy causing problems due to size or encroachment on adjacent organs. Sometimes radiation therapy to one nodal area or the spleen will result in an abscopal effect (i.e., the shrinkage of lymph nodes in untreated sites).

Ofatumumab

Ofatumumab is a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody.

Evidence (ofatumumab alone and in combination with chlorambucil):

  1. A prospective trial of 474 previously treated patients who attained partial or complete remission to second- or third-line chemotherapy were randomly assigned to 2 years of maintenance therapy with ofatumumab versus observation.[59 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 19 months, median PFS favored the ofatumumab maintenance arm at 29.4 months versus 15.2 months (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.38–0.66; P < .0001) but with no difference in OS.[59 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]
  2. A prospective, randomized trial of 447 patients who were previously untreated compared ofatumumab plus chlorambucil with chlorambucil alone.[60 ]
    • With a median follow-up of 2 years, median PFS favored the ofatumumab plus chlorambucil arm at 22.4 months versus 13.1 months (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.45–0.72; P = .0001), but with no difference in OS.[60 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]

Bone Marrow or Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation

Bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation is under clinical evaluation for patients with advanced-stage disease or adverse prognostic factors.[61 ,62 ,63 ,64 ,65 ,66 ,67 ]

In a prospective randomized trial, 241 previously untreated patients younger than 66 years with advanced-stage disease received induction therapy with a CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone)-based regimen followed by fludarabine.[68 ] Complete responders (105 patients) were randomly assigned to undergo autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or observation, while the other 136 patients were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone, high-dose aracytin, and cisplatin reinduction followed by either ASCT or FC. Although the 3-year event-free survival (EFS) favored ASCT in complete responders, there was no difference in OS in any of the randomized comparisons.[68 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDi]

Patients with adverse prognostic factors are very likely to die from CLL. These patients are candidates for clinical trials that employ high-dose chemotherapy and immunotherapy with myeloablative or nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation.[61 ,62 ,63 ,64 ,65 ,66 ,69 ,70 ,71 ,72 ,73 ,74 ,75 ,76 ] Although most patients who attain complete remission after ASCT eventually relapse,[67 ] a survival plateau for allogeneic stem cell support suggests an additional graft-versus-leukemia effect.[76 ] A series (NCT00281983) of 90 patients with relapsed or refractory CLL who underwent ASCT reported a 58% 6-year OS rate and a 38% 6-year EFS rate, which included those patients with the worst prognostic factors (such as TP53 gene mutation).[77 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiD] Patients who relapse after ASCT may respond well and durably to salvage regimens.[78 ]

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy

Autologous T cells were modified by a lentiviral vector to incorporate antigen receptor specificity for the B-cell antigen CD19 and then infused into a previously treated patient.[79 ] A dramatic response lasting 6 months has prompted larger trials of this concept.[79 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv] Ongoing clinical trials are testing the concept of T cells directed at specific antigen targets with engineered CARs.[80 ,81 ]

Alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab, the monoclonal antibody directed at CD52, shows activity in the setting of chemotherapy-resistant disease or high-risk untreated patients with 17p deletion or TP53 mutation.[82 ,83 ,84 ] As a single agent, the subcutaneous route of delivery for alemtuzumab is preferred to the intravenous route in patients because of the similar efficacy and decreased adverse effects, including less acute allergic reactions that were shown in some nonrandomized reports.[84 ,85 ,86 ,87 ,88 ]

In a combination regimen, subcutaneous alemtuzumab plus fludarabine (with or without cyclophosphamide) or intravenous alemtuzumab plus alkylating agents have resulted in excess infectious toxicities and death, with no compensatory improvement in efficacy in three phase II trials and one randomized trial.[89 ,90 ,91 ][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiv]; [92 ][Level of evidence: 1iiDiii]

Alemtuzumab is no longer available commercially in the United States for neoplastic indications but can be obtained from the pharmaceutical company on a compassionate-use basis (U.S. Campath Distribution Program).

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

References:

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Key References for CLL Treatment

These references have been identified by members of the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board as significant in the field of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment. This list is provided to inform users of important studies that have helped shape the current understanding of and treatment options for CLL. Listed after each reference are the sections within this summary where the reference is cited.

  • Burger JA, Tedeschi A, Barr PM, et al.: Ibrutinib as Initial Therapy for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 373 (25): 2425-37, 2015.[PUBMED Abstract]

    Cited in:

    • Selection of Therapy for CLL
    • Description of Treatments for CLL
  • Fischer K, Al-Sawaf O, Bahlo J, et al.: Venetoclax and Obinutuzumab in Patients with CLL and Coexisting Conditions. N Engl J Med 380 (23): 2225-2236, 2019.[PUBMED Abstract]

    Cited in:

    • Description of Treatments for CLL
  • Fischer K, Bahlo J, Fink AM, et al.: Long-term remissions after FCR chemoimmunotherapy in previously untreated patients with CLL: updated results of the CLL8 trial. Blood 127 (2): 208-15, 2016.[PUBMED Abstract]

    Cited in:

    • Selection of Therapy for CLL
    • Description of Treatments for CLL
  • Furman RR, Sharman JP, Coutre SE, et al.: Idelalisib and rituximab in relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med 370 (11): 997-1007, 2014.[PUBMED Abstract]

    Cited in:

    • Description of Treatments for CLL
  • Thompson PA, Tam CS, O'Brien SM, et al.: Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab treatment achieves long-term disease-free survival in IGHV-mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 127 (3): 303-9, 2016.[PUBMED Abstract]

    Cited in:

    • Selection of Therapy for CLL
    • Description of Treatments for CLL

Changes to This Summary (11 / 14 / 2019)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

This summary was comprehensively reviewed, extensively revised, and reformatted.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.

About This PDQ Summary

Purpose of This Summary

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians who care for cancer patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

Reviewers and Updates

This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:

  • be discussed at a meeting,
  • be cited with text, or
  • replace or update an existing article that is already cited.

Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary.

The lead reviewers for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment are:

  • Eric J. Seifter, MD (Johns Hopkins University)
  • Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS (Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute)

Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer.gov through the NCI website's Email Us. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries.

Levels of Evidence

Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.

Permission to Use This Summary

PDQ is a registered trademark. Although the content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text, it cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless it is presented in its entirety and is regularly updated. However, an author would be permitted to write a sentence such as "NCI's PDQ cancer information summary about breast cancer prevention states the risks succinctly: [include excerpt from the summary]."

The preferred citation for this PDQ summary is:

PDQ® Adult Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/hp/cll-treatment-pdq. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>. [PMID: 26389470]

Images in this summary are used with permission of the author(s), artist, and/or publisher for use within the PDQ summaries only. Permission to use images outside the context of PDQ information must be obtained from the owner(s) and cannot be granted by the National Cancer Institute. Information about using the illustrations in this summary, along with many other cancer-related images, is available in Visuals Online, a collection of over 2,000 scientific images.

Disclaimer

Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options may be described as either "standard" or "under clinical evaluation." These classifications should not be used as a basis for insurance reimbursement determinations. More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer.gov on the Managing Cancer Care page.

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More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer.gov website can be found on our Contact Us for Help page. Questions can also be submitted to Cancer.gov through the website's Email Us.

Last Revised: 2019-11-14

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