Dr. Kahl on Patient Preference in Treatment Selection for CLL

Brad Kahl, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, discusses patient preference in treatment selection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Patients are more aware now than ever of the promise of targeted therapies regarding both response and safety profile. This has been compounded by the positive data seen with potent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as ibrutinib (Imbruvica), and immunotherapy. Considering the increased knowledge of the treatment landscape and the negative view that many patients have toward chemotherapy, Kahl says that when treatment is being discussed, the clinician needs to educate the patient on the reality of chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy regimens used in CLL are not as intimidating as patients may believe, and it is doable for most patients, Kahl adds. Still, there is no question that patients ask for and prefer being put on a novel targeted agent.