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      Drugs & Diseases > Hematology

      Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Guidelines

      Updated: Jan 30, 2023
      • Author: Mohammad Muhsin Chisti, MD, FACP; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD  more...
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      Guidelines

      Guidelines Summary

      Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been issued by the following organizations:

      • National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) [5]
      • International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) [26]
      • European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) [111]

      Diagnosis and Staging

      All three guidelines are in agreement that the diagnosis of CLL requires the presence of ≥5 × 109/L B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the clonality of the circulating B lymphocytes should be confirmed by flow cytometry. The iwCLL guidelines also require persistence of lymphocytosis for longer than 3 months, while NCCN and ESMO do not. [5, 26, 111]

      For adequate immunophenotyping to establish diagnosis by flow cytometry, the NCCN recommends using the cell surface markers kappa/lambda, CD19, CD20, CD5, CD23, and CD10. If flow cytometry is used to establish the diagnosis, cytospin for cyclin D1 or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for t(11;14); t(11q;v) should also be included. [5]

      The NCCN recommends proceeding with lymph node biopsy if the diagnosis is not established by flow cytometry. Diagnosis on lymph node biopsy requires immunophenotyping of CD3, CD5, CD10, CD20, CD23, and cyclin D1. [5]

      ESMO guidelines note that leukemia cells are characteristically small, mature-appearing lymphocytes with a narrow border of cytoplasm and a dense nucleus lacking discernible nucleoli, and having partially aggregated chromatin. Larger, atypical lymphocytes or prolymphocytes cannot exceed 55%. [111]

      The iwCLL guidelines also allow for the diagnosis of CLL in the presence of a cytopenia caused by clonal bone marrow involvement regardless of the peripheral B-lymphocyte count. [26]

      Additional tests recommended prior to initiation of treatment include:

      • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect cytogenetic abnormalities, in particular a deletion of chromosome 17 [del(17p)], 13[del(13q)] and 11 [del(11q)] and trisomy of chromosome12 [5, 26, 111]

      • Molecular analysis to detect IGHV mutation status [26, 5]

      • Determination of CD38 and ZAP-70 expression by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry [5]

      • TP53 sequencing [5]

      • Prior to chemoimmunotherapy, alemtuzumab or allogeneic stem cell transplantation, testing for hepatitis B and C viruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [26, 111]

      • Unilateral bone marrow aspirate and biopsy [26, 111] ; however, some oncologists in the United States do not consider bone marrow analysis to be required

      The NCCN considers the following essential in the workup of patients diagnosed with CLL [5] :

      • Physical examination with attention to node-bearing areas, including Waldeyer ring, and measurement of size of liver and spleen
      • Performance status determination
      • Assessment of B symptoms
      • Complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel

      Treatment

      The guidelines are in agreement that patients with early-stage CLL should not be treated with chemotherapy until they become symptomatic or display evidence of rapid progression of disease. [5, 26, 111]

      Patients at low risk and intermediate risk (ie, Rai stages 0-II) who have no indications for treatment should be observed. Blood cell counts and clinical examinations should be performed every 3–12 months. Indications for treatment include the following:

      • Significant disease-related symptoms (eg, fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, fever without infection)
      • Threatened end-organ function
      • Progressive bulky disease
      • Progressive anemia or thrombocytopenia
      • Progressive lymphocytosis

      Therapy recommendations for patients at high risk (ie, Rai stages III-IV) and progressive cytopenia are based on the following:

      • Patient age
      • Patient comorbidities
      • Presence or absence of del(17p)
      • Presence or absence of TP53 mutations

      For first-line treatment of CLL without del(17p) or TP53 mutations, NCCN recommendations (including category 1, which are based on high-level evidence, with uniform NCCN consensus that the intervention is appropriate) are as follows [5] :

      Patients < 65 years, without significant comorbidities:  

      • Preferred regimens: Acalabrutinib ± obinutuzumab (category 1); ibrutinib monotherapy (category 1); venetoclax + obinutuzumab; zanubrutinib monotherapy
      • Other recommended regimens include: FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab) (preferred for use in patients with IGHV-mutated CLL); ibrutinib + rituximab (category 2B); FR (fludarabine, rituximab)(category 3); bendamustine + anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody; high-dose methylprednisone (HDMP) + rituximab  or obinutuzumab (category 3)

      Patients ≥65 years, and younger patients with significant comorbidities (creatinine clearance < 70 mL/min): 

      • Preferred regimen: Acalabrutinib ± obinutuzumab (category 1); ibrutinib (category 1); venetoclax + obinutuzumab (category 1); zanubrutinib (category 2A) 
      • Other recommended regimens: Bendamustine (70 mg/m 2 in cycle 1 with escalation to 90 mg/m 2 if tolerated) + anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (not recommended for use in frail patients); chlorambucil + obinutuzumab; obinutuzumab monotherapy; HDMP + rituximab or obinutuzumab (category 2B), ibrutinib + obinutuzumab (category 2B), chlorambucil monotherapy (category 3); rituximab monotherapy (category 3)

      Post–first-line maintenance therapy:

      • Consider lenalidomide for high-risk patients

      Preferred second-line and subsequent therapy regimens for CLL patients without del(17p) or TP53 mutations of all ages and comorbidity status are as follows:

      • Ibrutinib monotherapy (category 1); venetoclax + rituximab (category 1); acalabrutinib monotherapy (category 1); zanubrutinib monotherapy

      Additional second-line and subsequent therapy recommended regimens for those >65 years of age or < 65 years of age with multiple comorbidities:

      • Chlorambucil + rituximab; duvelisib monotherapy; idelalisib ± rituximab; lenalidomide ± rituximab; obinutuzumab monotherapy; ofatumumab monotherapy; venetoclax monotherapy; bendamustine + rituximab (category 2B); HDMP+ rituximab or obinutuzumab (category 2B); dose-dense rituximab (category 3)

      Additional second-line and subsequent therapy recommended regimens for those < 65 years of age without significant comorbdities:

      • bendamustin + rituximab; duvelisib monotherapy; FCR; idelalisib ± rituximab; lenalidomide ± rituximab; obinutuzumab monotherapy; ofatumumab monotherapy; venetoclax monotherapy; HDMP + rituximab or obinutuzumab (category 2B); alemtuzumab ± rituximab (category 3); bendamustin, rituximab + ibrutinib (category 3); FC (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide) + ofatumumab (category 3)

      For treatment of CLL with del(17p) or TP53 mutations, the NCCN recommends the following [5] :

      First-line therapy preferred regimens include:

      • Acalabrutinib ± obinutuzumab; venetoclax + obinutuzumab; ibrutinib monotherapy; zanubrutinib monotherapy
      • Other recommended regimens include alemtuzumab ± rituximab; HDMP + rituximab; or obinutuzumab monotherapy

      Relapsed/refractory disease therapy:

      • Ibrutinib (category 1); venetoclax + rituximab (category 1); acalabrutinib (category 1); venetoclax monotherapy; zanubrutinib monotherapy
      • Other recommended regimens include alemtuzumab ± rituximab; lenalidomide ± rituximab; HDMP + rituximab; idelalisib ± rituximab; ofatumumab monotherapy; duvelisib monotherapy

      Post–first-line maintenance therapy:

      • Consider lenalidomide for high-risk patients

      Post–second-line therapy (ie, for patients with complete or partial response to relapsed/refractory therapy): 

      • Lenalidomide, ofatumumab

      The ESMO guidelines recommend that for symptomatic early-stage or advanced-stage CLL that lacks IGHV and TP53 mutations or del(17), patients who are fit should receive treatment with ibrutinib. An alternative, if that agent is contraindicated or unavailable, is chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR); bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) may be considered in patients older than 65 years. In unfit patients, ESMO recommends venetoclax plus obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, or acalabrutinib; an alternative, if targeted therapies are contraindicated or unavailable is chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab. [111]

      In patients with symptomatic early-stage or advanced-stage CLL that is IGHV mutated butdoes not have TP53 mutations or del(17), ESMO guidelines recommend that patients who are fit receive treatment with FCR (or BR, in patients older than 65 years) or ibrutinib. Recommended regimens in unfit patients are as follows:

      • Venetoclax plus obinutuzumab
      • Chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab
      • Ibrutinib or acalabrutinib

      For CLL with TP53 mutation or del(17p), ESMO recommendations are as follows:

      • Ibrutinib or acalabrutinib
      • Venetoclax with or without obinutuzumab
      • Idelalisib plus rituximab

      For symptomatic relapsed CLL with TP53 mutation or del(17p), ESMO recommendations are as follows:

      • Ibrutinib or acalabrutinib
      • Venetoclax plus rituximab
      • Venetoclax monotherapy
      • Idelalisib plus rituximab
      • Consideration of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in fit patients

      For symptomatic relapses that occur after remission duration of less than 36 months, ESMO recommendations are as follows:

      • Ibrutinib or acalabrutinib
      • Venetoclax plus rituximab
      • Venetoclax monotherapy
      • Idelalisib plus rituximab

      For relapses that occur after remissions lasting longer than 36 months, ESMO guidelines recommend repeating front-line therapy or changing to one of the following:

      • Ibrutinib or acalabrutinib
      • Venetoclax plus rituximab
      • Idelalisib plus rituximab
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