Onkologie. 2015:9(3):107-111

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Markéta Hadrabová

Interní hematologická a onkologická klinika LF MU a FN Brno

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a low-malignant lymphoproliferative disease affecting the elderly population. It is the most frequent

leukaemia in the Western world where it accounts for nearly 30 % of all leukaemias. The pathogenesis of CLL is still precisely unknown, even

though much progress has recently been made in this field. Novel prognostic factors are being studied that could determine risk groups of patients

requiring early and intensive therapy initiation. Up to now, however, treatment has been indicated according to the stage of the disease.

In recent years, CLL treatment has been evolving rapidly. Although chemoimmunotherapy, which is capable of inducing up to several years of

complete disease remission, remains the gold standard of treatment, novel drugs have emerged that are effective both in first-line treatment and

in patients with disease relapse or with refractory disease. These include novel monoclonal antibodies, BCR signalling inhibitors, or Bcl-2 inhibitors.

Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, prognostic factors, chemoimmunotherapy, novel drugs

Published: June 1, 2015  Show citation