Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

These therapies continue to be studied in clinical trials in combination with
chemotherapy and other biologic therapies such as lenalidomide (Revlimid®).
(see Clinical Trials on page 20).
Whereas most chemotherapy affects normal tissue cells as well as CLL cells,
monoclonal antibody therapy may affect some normal lymphocytes but spare most
other cells. This is particularly true for CD20 antibodies (Rituxan and Arzerra).
Even though the infusion of a monoclonal antibody into a patient’s vein may cause
a short period of fever, chills or low blood pressure, generally people experience less
troubling side effects with monoclonal antibody therapy than with chemotherapy.
The drugs most commonly used to treat CLL are shown in Table 3 on page 17.
White Cell (neutrophil) Growth Factors. Treatment for CLL may include
administering blood cell growth factors to improve low white cell counts.
Treatment with white blood cell growth factors may help people with CLL to
tolerate the side effects of higher doses of chemotherapy (see Complications: CLL or
CLL Treatment on page 18).
Radiation Therapy. Radiation is sometimes used to shrink large lymph node
masses or masses in locations that interfere with the function of a neighboring body
part, such as the kidney, the gastrointestinal tract or the throat. This treatment is
rarely used in CLL.
Splenectomy. CLL cells can accumulate in the spleen and become problematic in
some people with CLL. Surgical removal (splenectomy) of a very enlarged spleen
may improve blood cell counts. This approach is used selectively because it is only
beneficial if the patient’s spleen is affected by CLL.
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