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Targeted Therapies
Most new “small molecules” can be taken by mouth. Many work by blocking pathways that the cancer cells have pirated and become addicted to such as signaling pathways. Examples include ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, duvelisib and others. Others, such as venetoclax, remove blockades that the cancer has created which prevent natural cell death. These therapies target the cancer and spare most healthy cells.
ARTICLES ON TARGETED THERAPIES
Venetoclax monotherapy is effective for treating relapsed / refractory CLL, including in patients previously treated with BTK or PI3K inhibitors.
Acalabrutinib has a low risk of sudden death and ventricular arrhythmias in chronic lymphocytic leukemia / small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL / SLL) patients.
In real world data, outcomes were equivalent in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients whether they were first treated with venetoclax or a BTK inhibitor.
The majority of CLL patients who had previously relapsed on covalent BTK inhibitors responded well to pirtobrutinib therapy.
Patients with relapsed/refractory CLL / SLL treated with zanubrutinib had longer remissions than patients treated with ibrutinib.
Venetoclax is an effective treatment for CLL patients with no prior exposure to BTK inhibitors, but less effective for patients who have progressed on a BTK.
RECENT NEWS
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