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
Pirtobrutinib as a first-line therapy significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with CLL / SLL compared with chemoimmunotherapy.
Fixed-duration therapy using venetoclax-based combinations is just as effective as continuous BTK inhibitor therapy for first-line treatment of CLL
CLL patients who received BTKi and stopped therapy for non-CLL progression reasons reported an improved quality of life and prolonged time off treatment.
Patients with CLL / SLL who were treated with zanubrutinib continue to experience deep sustained responses six years out with no new safety issues.
With five years of follow-up, zanubrutinib continues to provide greater progression-free survival in treatment-naïve patients with CLL / SLL.
While time-limited treatment for CLL with venetoclax sounds appealing, its use is low because it is more complicated to start than a BTK inhibitor.
RECENT NEWS
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