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CLL Cures

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a form of cancer that affects the white blood cells, thereby weakening the immune system. It commonly affects people with a median age of 70, and rarely strikes those under the age of 40. While the only effective cure is a bone marrow stem cell transplant, chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy is also often used.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of CLL typically appear over time, and might not be present when the initial diagnosis is made. These symptoms typically include enlarged lymph nodes, spleen and liver; flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and fever; a loss of appetite and therefore loss of weight; recurring infections; and night sweats.

    Chemotherapy

    • During the early stages of CCL, the primary method of treatment is simple observation to monitor sudden rises in white blood cell count. Once symptoms begin to appear, more aggressive therapy, such as radiation and chemotherapy, may be used. Certain symptoms, such as fatigue, infection, anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets) and a swelling of the lymph nodes, can be treated with chemotherapy drugs. Examples of these include fludarabine, chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. Another drug, bendamustine, was approved for patients in whom CLL returns after initial treatment.
      In the event that fludarabine is ineffective, the targeted drugs alemtuzumab and rituximab may be prescribed. These are used in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs, though they may also be used alone.
      In very rare cases, radiation therapy may be used to treat lymph nodes that have become swollen.

    Stem Cell Transplant

    • The most effective way of treating CLL is through a bone marrow stem cell transplant, wherein chemotherapy drugs kill off the stem cells that are responsible for the creation of the lymphocytes. Once this is completed, healthy blood stem cells from a donor are placed in the blood where they enter the bone marrow and begin making healthy cells. This method of treatment is typically used when other methods fail. A study published in the April 2000 journal "Bone Marrow Transplantation" concluded that allogeneic (external donor) stem cell therapy has great potential in the fight against CLL.

    Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

    • Monoclonal antibody therapy involves the development of antibodies from an individual immune system cell which are then used to attack and kill the substances on the cancer cells that promote their growth. This method of treatment is given through infusion and can often be used in conjunction with other drugs. A study published in the February 2006 journal "Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy" concluded that monoclonal antibody therapy can be highly effective and possibly serve as a replacement to chemotherapy, though more research is necessary.

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