New CLL survival milestones

[BettinaB]

I just love to read sentences like “I think we’re approaching a time when we could start thinking about CLL patients living 20 to 30 years after they start treatment.”

targetedonc.com/conference/...

[cajunjeff]

This is a good article, thanks for posting it. Most all Cll survival tables examine historical data and look at Cll retrospectively. We know from that data that for each of the last five decades people are living longer with Cll. The recent abstract from the upcoming ASH meeting has median survival for Cll, AFTER we start treatment, at about ten years. That’s not awful for a disease that hits most around age 70.

Even that most recent survival table is outdated. It does not and can not take into account novel agents that are just now being widely used.

In this article Dr Furman looks forward and gives a prediction of what survival will look like based on how the novel agents are working. Of course numbers based on predictions will generally not be as accurate as numbers based on historical data. But in our case with Cll, we know novel agents are working and the future projections are likely more accurate than what has happened over the last ten years. Furman sees many of us going out 20 years or more after starting therapy. That’s a normal life expectancy for those starting treatment later in life.

For those not familiar with Dr Furman, he stands a little alone in his treatment philosophy in that he sees little to no role for any sort of chemo for Cll treatment. He touches on that theme a bit in this article where he opines that first time treaters are doing so well on ibrutinib it might be the only drug they ever need. Most Cll experts still see a role for chemo in Cll treatment, albeit a diminished role. Furman is a bright guy and I enjoy reading about his presentations.

[lankisterguy Volunteer in reply to cajunjeff]

I agree emphatically with bassejm & BettinaB, the linked article from Targeted Oncology is excellent.

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Similar information is presented in a video of Dr, Furman, posted 2 days ago by Cllcanada - Chris healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

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youtu.be/WOfqcH9X6x8(Not working as expected?)

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Len

[devonrr]

Oh, oh, oh. Loved that sentence too.

So promising on present treatments.

They’ll cure us one day. Hope it’s soon.

[Lola69]

My imbruvica nurse said many companies are in competition with each other to find “the cure.”... it’s a booming business for CLL researchers

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Lola69]

And China is very interested in CLL research... why?

Because drug company research funding goes much further in China than the U.S. and they have exceptionally skilled researchers...

Look to China ...

~chris

[Lola69 in reply to Cllcanada]

I wonder who they test these drugs on? Do Chinese folks get CLL? rare in Asians.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Lola69]

Zanubrutinib the Chinese developed version of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) was largely trialed in Australia... yes the Chinese get CLL but it is rare and the genetics are a bit different.

I can see as Chinese research in CLL ramps up over the next 5 years that Australia will benefit, from clinical trials...

~chris

[Lola69 in reply to Cllcanada]

Never heard of it. I will stick with western medicine 😊

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Lola69]

Oh Lola.. Imbruvica (ibrutinib) you take everyday is made in China... This is the company link, you can take a very interesting 360 degree tour of where Imbruvica (ibrutinib) is made.

lonza.com/custom-manufactur...

[Lola69 in reply to Cllcanada]

😮 NANSHA!