Dr. Mato Discusses Advances in the Treatment of Patients With CLL

Anthony Mato, MD, MSCE, hematologic oncologist, director, CLL Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses recent advances made in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

In the past few years, a significant amount of data has emerged regarding the treatment of patients with CLL, Mato explains. For example, long-term follow-up data with ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and venetoclax (Venclexta) continued to demonstrate efficacy with the agents for patients with CLL.

Additionally, next-generation agents, such as the covalent BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib (Calquence), have been integrated into clinical practice. Data also emerged regarding non-covalent BTK inhibitors like pirtobrutinib (LOXO-305), demonstrating encouraging efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, Mato explains.

The field is also developing a greater understanding of where CAR T-cell therapy may fit into treatment sequencing in CLL, as well as how to optimize doublet and triplet therapies of novel agents, Mato says. Notably, the advances made in CLL underscore a shift away from chemotherapy in the field, Mato concludes.