Treatment of Symptomatic or Progressive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

The treatment of symptomatic or progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may include the following:

• Watchful waiting.
• Targeted therapy with any of the following drugs:
  • A tyrosine kinase inhibitor (acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib, or ibrutinib).
  • Venetoclax with obinutuzumab or rituximab.
• Chemotherapy and rituximab.
• Immunotherapy (lenalidomide) with or without rituximab.
• A clinical trial of bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

All of these treatments may be used for patients being treated for the first time and those who have been treated before. Because these treatments have not been compared in studies, it is not possible to know if one treatment is better than another. The choice of treatment is made based on test results, the patient's age and general health, and the desire to minimize short-term and long-term side effects.