Novel Targeted Therapies for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Elderly Patients: A Systematic Review

Arafat Ali Farooqui, Aqsa Ashraf, Talha Bin Farooq, Ahmad Anjum, Saif ur Rehman, Arshia Akbar, Abraham Kanate, Robert Dean, Malik Qistas Ahmed, Muhammad Junaid Tariq, Shaha Nabeel, Muhammad Salman Faisal, Faiz Anwer

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) typically affects older patients; administration of traditional cytotoxic therapies in old patients has very modest benefit with no survival improvement. With better understanding of CLL biology, trends are shifting towards the use of targeted therapies. The objective of this article is to review the safety and efficacy of various novel agents that specifically target the dysregulated pathways, with particular attention to elderly patients. Agents like B-cell receptor (BCR) inhibitors (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors [ibrutinib]), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors (idelalisib), spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors (entospletinib), Bcl-2 inhibitors (venetoclax), immunomodulators (lenalidomide), and monoclonal antibodies (obinutuzumab, ofatumumab) have shown activity in CLL with a very favorable toxicity profile. Newer agents have improved clinical outcomes, and have tolerable toxicity profiles in elderly patients, resulting in the treatment with individualized therapy approach for CLL.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e414-e426
JournalClinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia
Volume20
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020

Keywords

  • Elderly
  • Lymphocytic Leukemia-Chronic B Cell
  • Monoclonal antibodies
  • Personalized therapy
  • Targeted therapy

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