Info

treatment of small lymphocytic lymphoma

(NEJM 2020;383:460)

  • unless “active disease”: Rai System III/IV, Binet stage C, disease-related sx, progressive disease, AIHA or ITP refractory to steroids, recurrent infections

First-line

w/o del(17p)/TP53 use acalabrutinib or ibrutinib (BTK ❌inhibtors) or venetoclax + rituximab; with del(17p)/TP53 use acalabrutinib or venetoclax ± obinutuzumab; ibrutinib + venetoclax w 88% w/ CR but ↑ tox (NEJM 2019;380:2095)

Second-line & beyond

in general, choose Rx w/ mechanism different from 1st line Rx. BTK ❌inhibtors (eg, zanubrutinib), venetoclax, chemo including fludarabine, chlorambucil, or bendamustine + rituximab. Consider allo-HSCT in relapse.

  • HSCT is the only curative Rx. Rx choice balances patient/disease characteristics and goals of care. Different rates of complete remission, time to progression, and toxicities.

  • Rx for complications: PCP, HSV, VZV Ppx; AIHA/ITP → steroids; recurrent infxns → IVIg

NEW Drugs

  • Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) ❌inhibtor
    • ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib
  • BCL2 ❌inhibtor:
    • Venetoclax (ABT-199)
  • Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody:
  • Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) ❌inhibtor:
  • Anti-CD52:
    • Alemtuzumab