Dr. Seymour on Shifting Standards of Care in CLL

Erlene Seymour, MD, an oncologist at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, discusses shifting standards of care in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

There are many novel therapies for patients with CLL, explains Seymour. The number of breakthroughs over the past 4 years have caused questions over how to use these novel therapies.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing used to be a prognostic test, but it now has taken on a greater role in directing treatment, notes Seymour. About a decade ago, physicians had been using it for research purposes to show differences in overall survival (OS)—it was not necessarily guiding treatment. Now, physicians have several therapies that are showing improved OS in patients with 17p deletion. Doing that testing before therapy is more important than it was previously, states Seymour. Testing will hold increasing importance in the future, predicts Seymour, but is not currently mainstream.