In December, the Leukaemia Care Patient Advocacy team attended the annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference in Florida, where the latest research in haematology was presented.
Whilst there, the team spoke to a number of UK CLL experts who kindly provided patients with summary updates of the latest advances in the treatment of CLL.
I recall diagnosis and my early life with CLL 11 years ago, how different the landscape is today. That early hope and promise of change is fast becoming a reality as more treatment stepping stones provide a path into the future.
Professor John Gribben discusses, hot topics in CLL from ASH 2019. How the variety of new agents and the consolidation of evidence and knowledge is aiding the shift away from chemotherapy based treatments to novel targeted therapy. youtu.be/Qs2qG3Uv0Mw
Professor Pete Hillmen discusses how CLL treatment is fast changing. Maturing trial data is evidencing benefits over chemotherapy for the combinations of different targeted non chemo-therapies for use as fixed duration treatments for patients in 1st line and relapsed settings. With data from trials of next generation targeted therapies showing great promise increasing future options. youtu.be/HRnlQvHrgA0
Dr George Follows describes how the ELEVATE clinical trial, presented at ASH, shows that acalabrutinib is an effective treatment option for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients, and explains his hopes for its future use in the UK. youtu.be/8ss7J1VMCIQ
Renata Walewska discusses the position of chemotherapy and novel inhibitors, the combinations of inhibitors. Sequencing and duration questions for use of these therapies, MRD as a treatment objective and suitability of fixed duration novel combination therapies versus continuous therapy for high risk patients. youtu.be/PrxeGl9GPe8