B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia Part III: Current conventional options of first-line treatment

Overview

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by highly variable disease course with median survival varying from 18 months to more than 10 years depending on disease stage, biologic and genetic characteristics of tumor cells. Traditionally, CLL has been treated with alkylating agents alone or combined with other antineoplastic drugs, but this approach was palliative only. However, in the last ten years therapy of B-CLL has developed very dynamically. Fludarabine and other purine analogues used as initial therapy have changed our view on treatment goals, especially in younger patients. More complete remissions and longer progression-free survival can be achieved today with combination of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. Recently reported results of this therapy with incorporation of monoclonal antibodies (alemtuzumab, rituximab) indicate other possible treatment improving with molecular remission achievement in many patients. Individualized combination initial treatment, consolidation and maintenance immunotherapy and testing of new effective molecules are promising approaches towards improving of prognosis and probably cure of substantial proportion of B-CLL patients in near future.

Key words:
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, purine analogues, fludarabine, monoclonal antibodies, complete remission, survival