Optimizing Risk Stratification and Subsequent Management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia — 5-Minute Journal Club: Microlearning Activity 5

Faculty

TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is intended for medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Recognize the prognostic and clinical significance of various biomarkers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), such as del(17p), TP53 mutations and IGHV gene rearrangements, and refine molecular testing algorithms for patients newly diagnosed with this disease.
• Individualize the selection of systemic therapy for patients with treatment-naïve CLL, considering new research findings, biomarker profile, clinical presentation, coexisting medical conditions and other factors.
• Appreciate the scientific rationale for the investigation of combined Bruton tyrosine kinase and Bcl-2 inhibition, and review recently presented data documenting the safety and efficacy of this strategy for previously untreated CLL.
• Implement a plan of care to recognize and manage side effects and toxicities associated with systemic therapies commonly used in the management of newly diagnosed CLL.

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
Research To Practice is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
Research To Practice designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (ABIM) — MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION (MOC)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component and a post-test, enables the participant to earn up to 0.75 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Please note, this program has been specifically designed for the following ABIM specialties: medical oncology and hematology.

PRIVACY POLICY
Personal information and data sharing: Research To Practice aggregates deidentified user data for program-use analysis, program development, activity planning and site improvement. We may provide aggregate and deidentified data to third parties, including commercial supporters. We do not share or sell personally identifiable information to any unaffiliated third parties or commercial supporters. Please see our privacy policy at ResearchToPractice.com/Privacy-Policy for more information.

HOW TO USE THIS CME ACTIVITY
To receive credit for this activity, the participant should review the CME information, watch the video, complete the post-test with a score of 80% or better and fill out the evaluation.

CONTENT VALIDATION AND DISCLOSURES
Research To Practice (RTP) is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education and adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers and others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the commencement of this activity. In addition, all activity content is reviewed by RTP scientific staff and an external, independent physician reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

FACULTY — The following faculty reported relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities:

Dr Roeker — Advisory Committees: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Janssen Biotech Inc, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company; Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Lilly; Contracted Research: AbbVie Inc, Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, Aptose Biosciences Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeOne, Dren Bio, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, Pfizer Inc, Sound Biologics; Data and Safety Monitoring Boards/Committees: Ascentage Pharma; Stock Options/Stock — Public Companies: Abbott.

EDITOR — Dr Love  is president and CEO of Research To Practice. Research To Practice receives funds in the form of educational grants to develop CME activities from the following companies: Aadi Bioscience, AbbVie Inc, ADC Therapeutics, Agendia Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc, Array BioPharma Inc, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, Arvinas, Astellas, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, BeOne, Biotheranostics Inc, A Hologic Company, Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Bristol Myers Squibb, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc, Celcuity, Clovis Oncology, Coherus BioSciences, Corcept Therapeutics Inc, CTI BioPharma, a Sobi Company, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Eisai Inc, Elevation Oncology Inc, Exact Sciences Corporation, Exelixis Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genmab US Inc, Geron Corporation, Gilead Sciences Inc, GSK, Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc, ImmunoGen Inc, Incyte Corporation, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Kite, A Gilead Company, Kura Oncology, Legend Biotech, Lilly, MEI Pharma Inc, Merck, Mersana Therapeutics Inc, Mirati Therapeutics Inc, Mural Oncology Inc, Natera Inc, Novartis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation on behalf of Advanced Accelerator Applications, Novocure Inc, Nuvalent, Nuvation Bio Inc, Pfizer Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Puma Biotechnology Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Revolution Medicines Inc, Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc, R-Pharm US, Sanofi, Seagen Inc, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC, SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc, Stemline Therapeutics Inc, Sumitomo Pharma America, Summit Therapeutics, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Oncology Inc, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc, TerSera Therapeutics LLC, Tesaro, A GSK Company, and Verastem Inc.

RESEARCH TO PRACTICE CME PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF AND REVIEWERS — Planners, scientific staff and independent reviewers for Research To Practice have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

This educational activity contains discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research To Practice does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings. The opinions expressed are those of the presenters and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantors.

This activity is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and BeOne.

Release date: October 26, 2026
Expiration date: October 26, 2027

A phase 3, open-label, randomized study of sonrotoclax (BGB-11417) plus zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) compared with venetoclax plus acalabrutinib in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. NCT07277231

Cuneo A, Ghia P. Minimal residual disease in CLL: When does it really matter? Blood 2026;147(24):2852-4. Abstract

Ghia P et al. Final analysis of fixed-duration ibrutinib + venetoclax for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in the phase 2 CAPTIVATE study. ASCO 2025;Abstract 7036.

Guieze R et al. Time-limited acalabrutinib monotherapy in frail patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Primary endpoint analysis of the randomized STAIR trial. ASH 2025;Abstract 684.

Hoffmann M et al. MRD-guided therapy of sonrotoclax (BGB-11417) + obinutuzumab (O) in patients with treatment-naive CLL: Initial results from an ongoing phase 1/1b study, BGB-11417-101. ASH 2025;Abstract 793.

Martino EA et al. From time-limited therapy to treatment-free observation: The evolving role of MRD in CLL management. Eur J Haematol 2026;117(2):305-19. Abstract

Munir T et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia therapy guided by measurable residual disease. N Engl J Med 2024;390(4):326-37. Abstract

Parikh SA et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma: Mayo Clinic Systematic Management and Risk-Adapted Therapy for Lymphoid Malignancies (lySMART) consensus guidelines 2026. Mayo Clin Proc 2026;101(7):1185-201. Abstract

Phase III evaluation of fixed duration zanubrutinib plus sonrotoclax-based therapy compared to continuous zanubrutinib in previously untreated older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). NCT07321652

Roeker L, Thompson MC. Can minimal residual disease be used to tailor therapy duration for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients? Expert Rev Hematol 2026;19(4):373-8. Abstract

Ryan CE, Davids MS. Acalabrutinib to assail CLL in the frail. Blood 2025;146(26):3131-2. Abstract

Shadman M et al. Sonrotoclax (BGB-11417) + zanubrutinib (SZ) vs venetoclax + acalabrutinib (AV) in treatment-naive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (TN CLL): A phase 3 randomized trial design (CELESTIAL-TNCLL-2). ASCO 2026;Abstract TPS7099.

Simon F et al. Acalabrutinib treatment for older (aged ≥80 years) and/or frail patients with CLL: Primary end point analysis of the CLL-Frail trial. Blood 2025;146(26):3153-62. Abstract

Stephens DM et al. Feasibility of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor discontinuation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: The patient perspective. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2025;25(9):e663-7. Abstract