S7 Ep6: Navigating the Future of CLL Care

In this episode of Treating Together, host Marc Braunstein, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, is joined by John Burke, MD, from Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. Both specialists bring their extensive experience in lymphoma and multiple myeloma to a deep-dive discussion on the rapidly evolving treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Key Discussion PointsThe episode focuses on the refinement of CLL therapy, moving away from traditional chemoimmunotherapy toward targeted approaches. Highlights include: Continuous vs. fixed-duration therapy: A debate on whether patients benefit more from indefinite BTK inhibitor use or time-limited regimens. The role of MRD: Exploring how minimal residual disease (MRD) driven duration is becoming a sophisticated option for tailoring treatment. Clinical trial updates: Analysis of recent data regarding frontline treatment outcomes and infectious risks. Relapsed/refractory strategies: Insights into the recent FDA approval of pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) for second-line therapy and beyond. Looking Toward the FutureAs the experts look ahead into 2026, they discuss the promising emergence of BTK degraders, which have shown high response rates in heavily pretreated patients and are moving toward potential market availability in the coming years.