Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a slow-growing blood cancer where abnormal white blood cells accumulate in the bone marrow and blood. It's the most common leukemia in adults, typically diagnosed after age 60. Many people live with CLL for years without treatment, while others need therapy soon after diagnosis.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing BTK inhibitors like ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, BCL-2 inhibitors like venetoclax, and combination regimens that aim to eliminate minimal residual disease. CAR T-cell therapy is being studied for relapsed disease, and researchers are pursuing fixed-duration treatments that could replace indefinite medication. Trials also focus on high-risk genetic features like del(17p) and TP53 mutations.
Time-limited combinations
Pairing venetoclax with obinutuzumab or ibrutinib allows many people to stop treatment after a year or two while staying in remission. Trials are testing whether these combinations work as well as continuous therapy.
BTK degraders
A newer generation of BTK inhibitors degrades the protein rather than just blocking it. Early trials suggest this approach may overcome resistance to drugs like ibrutinib.
CAR T-cell therapy
Genetically modified immune cells are showing activity in people whose CLL stopped responding to targeted drugs. Studies are testing whether CAR T works better earlier in treatment.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on prior treatments, genetic markers like del(17p) or TP53 mutations, disease burden, and whether CLL is causing symptoms or progressing.
What types of trials are currently open
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing BTK inhibitors, BCL-2 inhibitors, or combinations to see if they control CLL better or with fewer side effects than current options.
- Combination trials — Pairing targeted drugs to see if shorter, fixed-duration treatment can replace years-long therapy.
- Relapsed disease trials — Testing new drugs or CAR T-cell therapy for CLL that has stopped responding to standard treatments.
- Minimal residual disease trials — Studies that use sensitive tests to measure tiny amounts of remaining cancer and guide treatment decisions.
- Observational studies — Following people with CLL over time to understand how genetic features affect disease progression and treatment response.
Recently added Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia trials
Pirtobrutinib for the Treatment of Elderly Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
This phase II trial studies how well pirtobrutinib works in treating elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors such as ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib work by blocking the action of the BTK protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. These are very effective, tolerable, and commonly used to treat people with CLL, but they may lead to drug resistance over time. Pirtobrutinib, also a BTK inhibitor, may work better in treating elderly patients with CLL.
Take two new drugs designed for high-risk blood cancers
This study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of an MRD-guided, time-limited therapy with zanubrutinib combined with sonrotoclax in previously untreated high-risk CLL/SLL patients.
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