Dr. Kipps on Frontline Therapies in CLL

Thomas J. Kipps, MD, PhD, deputy director of Research, Moores University of California, San Diego Cancer Center, professor of Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, discusses use of frontline therapies for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Though there are novel agents available in the frontline setting, there are some toxicities to be aware of, Kipps says. In a heterogenous disease such as CLL, some patients may have an indolent clinical disease course with minimal symptoms, while others rapidly progress and have disease-related complications. It is not always clear which disease course is most likely, he adds.

Oncologists should not prematurely treat patients with CLL due to the added toxicities. A common sense approach should still be used when treating patients, rather than relying on newer therapies, he adds. Patients who likely require treatment first experience rapid disease progression, limited marrow function, and immune-related dysfunctions.