Use of Immunotherapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The most prevalent form of hematologic cancer in the Western hemisphere, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affects millions every year. CLL has various methods of treatment however is known to be difficult to treat as it runs in the bloodstream and cannot be surgically removed. Aside from methods such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy is an emerging treatment that displays positive results. Options of immunotherapy for CLL include monoclonal antibodies such as ibrutinib or adoptive cell therapies such as CAR T cell therapy. Although immunotherapy demonstrates promising outcomes, CLL's ability to develop resistance becomes a major limitation. For this reason, it is necessary to investigate immunotherapy further to make advancements in treatment for CLL patients.