The Korean Journal of Medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia-Era of Targeted Therapy

만성림프구성백혈병-표적치료의 시대

  • Shin, Dong-Yeop (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences) ;
  • Kim, Inho (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
  • 신동엽 (한국원자력의학원 원자력병원 내과) ;
  • 김인호 (서울대학교 의과대학 서울대학교병원 내과)
  • Published : 2013.08.01
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Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a unique indolent B-cell leukemia which is rare in Korea. Many patients with early stage CLL do not require immediate treatment, while those with advanced stage or symptoms need systemic chemotherapy. As our understanding about the pathophysiology of CLL increases, significant advances have been achieved in the treatment of this disease. Modern molecular genetics have been revealing remarkable heterogeneity of various genetic alterations and the corresponding prognostic stratification in CLL. The treatment of CLL had been developed from nitrogen mustard alkylating agent like chlorambucil to combination therapy including purine analogues like pentostatin and fludarabine until early 2000s. Since the introduction of targeted agent like anti-CD20 and anti-CD52 monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of CLL, the treatment outcome of CLL has leaped further. In conclusion, one of the current standard regimens in patients with untreated CLL is the combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. We recently passed the entrance for the era of targeted therapy, and are exploring various new agents and their combinations.

Keywords

References

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