Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in Western adults, where abnormal B lymphocytes accumulate in the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. It grows slowly and many patients live years without needing treatment — but when treatment is needed, targeted oral drugs have largely replaced chemotherapy.
What's actually going on in research
BTK inhibitors like ibrutinib and acalabrutinib and the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax have transformed CLL treatment, producing deep remissions with far fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. Fixed-duration combination therapy with venetoclax plus obinutuzumab achieves minimal residual disease negativity in many patients, potentially allowing treatment-free periods. Covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors are being tested for patients who develop resistance to first-generation agents.
Fixed-duration venetoclax
Combining the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax with anti-CD20 antibodies for a defined 12–24 months achieves deep remissions that can last years after stopping therapy.
Next-generation BTK inhibitors
Non-covalent BTK inhibitors like pirtobrutinib overcome resistance to ibrutinib and acalabrutinib. Trials are testing them in BTK-resistant patients and as first-line therapy.
Minimal residual disease guided therapy
Trials are using ultra-sensitive MRD testing to decide when to stop treatment and when to extend it, tailoring therapy duration to individual response.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on CLL treatment indication (Rai/Binet stage, symptoms), del(17p) or TP53 mutation status, prior BTK or venetoclax exposure, and MRD status.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new BTK inhibitor, venetoclax, or antibody combinations in previously untreated CLL.
- Relapsed CLL trials — Evaluating options after BTK inhibitor or venetoclax failure, including non-covalent BTK inhibitors and CAR-T.
- Watch-and-wait trials — Testing early intervention strategies versus observation in asymptomatic early-stage CLL.
- MRD-guided trials — Using minimal residual disease testing to individualize treatment duration.
- High-risk CLL trials — Testing intensified approaches for patients with del(17p), TP53 mutation, or complex karyotype.
Recently added Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia trials
U96-CAR-T-Cells For R/R B-ALL
This study is a single-arm, open-label clinical investigation to evaluate the tolerance, safety and preliminary efficacy of CAR-T (U96) in the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell tumors. The study will be conducted in two disease types, acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia and B-cell lymphoma, with a dose escalation plan using the "3+3" method. Each dose group is planned to enroll 3 to 6 patients, with a total of approximately 30 to 48 patients to be enrolled in the entire study. After signing the informed consent form, patients will undergo screening tests. If they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, they will be enrolled in the study. After receiving U96 treatment, patients will be followed up. It is recommended that they stay in the hospital for at least 14 days after administration. Safety and efficacy follow-ups will be conducted at 28 days and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment. The follow-up period after treatment will last for 2 years, with a long-term follow-up of 15 years to assess the efficacy and safety until the end of the study or the patient withdraws from the study. For patients who have received U96 treatment, even if they withdraw from the study early, the investigators should still conduct long-term safety follow-ups according to the protocol to evaluate the long-term safety of the product.
CLL-IMPACT: A Clinical Nutrition Trial Investigating Immune and Metabolic Changes in Early-Stage CLL
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether a short-term (4-week) whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet has an effect on metabolism, immune function, and disease activity in early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Does a WFPB diet influence disease progression? * How do CLL cells and other immune cell types respond to a WFPB diet in terms of metabolism and signaling? Researchers will examine whether a WFPB diet can affect absolute lymphocyte counts in participants' blood and what metabolic or functional changes occur within the CLL cells. Participants will: * Switch to a WFPB diet for 4 weeks following an introductory session with a certified dietary instructor. * Visit the clinic before starting the diet and again after 14 and 28 days for blood draws and to provide stool samples. * Keep a diary of all foods and drinks consumed during the week prior to and throughout the study period.
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