Aktuelle Standards in der Diagnostik und Therapie der chronischen lymphatischen Leukämie

Was ist neu?

Diagnostik Die Aktualisierung der IWCLL-Kriterien ließ die Kriterien für die Diagnosestellung der CLL unberührt: In der Regel genügt weiterhin ein Blutausstrich und eine Immunphänotypisierung.

Therapieindikation Auch die Kriterien für die Therapieeinleitung blieben unverändert: Nur Patienten mit symptomatischer, fortgeschrittener Erkrankung sollen behandelt werden. Die Untersuchung auf Vorliegen einer Deletion 17p und/oder TP53-Mutation als wichtigster ungünstiger Prognosefaktor und prädiktiver Faktor ist essenziell vor Einleitung jeder neuen Therapie. Die Bedeutung des Mutationsstatus der variablen Region des Immunglobulin-Schwerkettengens (IgHV) hat deutlich zugenommen.

Erstlinientherapie der Patienten mit Hochrisikofaktoren Die Kombination des Bcl2-Antagonisten Venetoclax mit dem Antikörper Obinutuzumab wurde kürzlich für die Erstlinientherapie der CLL zugelassen. Aufgrund der klaren Überlegenheit gegenüber Chlorambucil/Obinutuzumab bei den unfitten, älteren Patienten sollte Venetoclax/Obinutuzumab von nun an die bevorzugte Behandlungsoption bei dieser Patientengruppe sein. Als Chemotherapie-freie und zeitlich limitierte Behandlung wird Venetoclax/Obinutuzumab auch bei den Hochrisikopatienten mit Deletion 17p/TP53-Mutation und bei den jüngeren, fitten Patienten künftig eine wichtige Option neben der Dauertherapie mit Ibrutinib darstellen. Bei Letzteren kann bei Vorliegen eines mutierten IgHV-Status auch eine Chemoimmuntherapie mit Rituximab, kombiniert mit Fliudarabin/Cyclophosphamid oder Bendamustin, erfolgen.

Rezidiv-Therapie Auch in der Rezidiv-Situation werden vorzugsweise die zielgerichteten Substanzen eingesetzt unter Berücksichtigung der zyto- und molekulargenetischen Risikofaktoren der CLL, der Patientencharakteristiken, der Tiefe und Dauer des Ansprechens sowie Verträglichkeit der vorangegangenen Therapie(n).

Abstract

Two major advances were made in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): the addition of the antibody rituximab to chemotherapy two decades ago and the introduction of the targeted agents during the last few years. Four targeted drugs with different mechanisms of action were added to the armamentarium of CLL treatment: the anti-CD20 antibody obinutuzumab, the two kinase inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib, which target the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and Phosphatidylinositiol-3-Kinase (PI3K) respectively in the B-cell receptor signalling pathway, as well as the Bcl2-antagonist venetoclax.

Recently, the combination of venetoclax/obinutuzumab was approved for the first-line treatment of all CLL patients based on a phase-III trial in elderly unfit patients. This combination was shown to be clearly superior to chlorambucil/obinutuzumab and should become the preferred first-line treatment for the so called „slow-go“ patients. Other options for these elderly, unfit patients are continuous ibrutinib or chlorambucil/obinutuzumab. Although data from phase-III studies are not yet available, venetoclax/obintuzumab may also be offered to younger, fit patients. Established therapeutic options for these so called „go go“ patients are ibrutinib, fludarabin/cyclophosphamide/rituximab or bendemustine/rituximab (if > 65 years). Patients with the high-risk parameters deletion 17p or TP53mutation are known to poorly respond to chemo(immuno)therapy and should receive either ibrutinib or venetoclax/obinutuzumab.

Thus, a choice has to be made between a continuous monotherapy with ibrutinib or a time-limited combination with either venetoclax/obinutuzumab (12 months) or chemoimmunotherapy (usually 6 months). In addition to disease-related factors (e. g. presence of deletion 17p/TP53 mutation, IgHV mutational status, prior therapies), comorbidities, co-medication and the specific side effects of the CLL therapies (myelosuppression, infections and secondary malignancies for chemoimmunotherapy; cardiac toxicity, bleeding and autoimmune disease for ibrutinib; tumour-lysis syndromes and infections for venetoclax) the patient’s expectations need to be considered.

Schlüsselwörter

chronische lymphatische Leukämie - CLL - Diagnostik - Therapie

Key words

chronic lymphocytic leukaemia - CLL - diagnosis - treatment

Publication History

Article published online:
13 August 2020

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