What Influences the Choice of Ibrutinib-Rituximab vs Classic Chemoimmunotherapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with an incidence rate between 4 and 6 cases per 100,000 persons per year, is considered the most prevalent leukemia in the western world. Chemoimmunotherapy (such as fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab), bendamustine plus rituximab, and, more recently, novel agents such as ibrutinib (Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor), idelalisib (phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase δ inhibitor), and venetoclax (BCL-2 inhibitor) have changed the management of CLL. Shanafelt and colleagues compared the efficacy of ibrutinib-rituximab with that of standard chemoimmunotherapy in patients with treatment-naïve CLL. They did not, however, mention that the therapy varies on the basis of where patients live and, given that local guidelines not immediately reflect US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updates, discrepancies in treatment occur. Important CLL goals are the availability of rapidly reproducible tests, standardization of national and international guidelines, and FDA approval-based treatment reimbursement.