TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is intended for hematologists, medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows, pathologists, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Individualize the selection of systemic therapy for newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), considering clinical presentation, biomarker profile, coexisting medical conditions and patient preferences.
• Discuss available Phase III data demonstrating the superior efficacy and safety of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition compared to standard chemoimmunotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with CLL, and use this information to evaluate and select available options.
• Appraise available and recently presented Phase III data documenting the comparative efficacy and tolerability of first- and second-generation BTK inhibitors, and consider the implications of these findings for clinical decision-making for patients with newly diagnosed or previously treated CLL.
• Assess the FDA approval of venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab as front-line therapy for CLL, and appropriately integrate this regimen into current treatment decision-making.
• Appreciate the scientific rationale for the investigation of combined BTK and Bcl-2 inhibition, and review recently presented Phase III data documenting the safety and efficacy of this strategy for patients with newly diagnosed CLL.
• Analyze how patient age, performance status, prior therapeutic exposure and other biologic and disease-related factors affect the selection and sequencing of therapy for relapsed/refractory CLL.
• Implement a plan of care to recognize and manage side effects and toxicities associated with recently approved and emerging systemic therapies for CLL.
• Recall available and emerging data with other novel agents, combinations and strategies currently under investigation for CLL, and appropriately refer eligible patients for trial participation.

CE ACCREDITATION AND CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENTS
In support of improving patient care, University of Nebraska Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CME and NCPD credit are no longer available for this issue

FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
This activity consists of a video component.
CME and NCPD credit are no longer available for this issue

CONTENT VALIDATION AND DISCLOSURES
As a jointly accredited provider, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) ensures accuracy, balance, objectivity, independence, and scientific rigor in its educational activities and is committed to protecting learners from promotion, marketing, and commercial bias. Faculty (authors, presenters, speakers) are encouraged to provide a balanced view of therapeutic options by utilizing either generic names or other options available when utilizing trade names to ensure impartiality.

All faculty, planners, and others in a position to control continuing education content participating in a UNMC accredited activity are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. As defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. The accredited provider is responsible for mitigating relevant financial relationships in accredited continuing education. Disclosure of these commitments and/or relationships is included in these activity materials so that participants may formulate their own judgments in interpreting its content and evaluating its recommendations.

This activity may include presentations in which faculty may discuss off-label and/or investigational use of pharmaceuticals or instruments not yet FDA-approved. Participants should note that the use of products outside currently FDA-approved labeling should be considered experimental and are advised to consult current prescribing information for FDA-approved indications.

All materials are included with the permission of the faculty. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of UNMC.

FACULTY — The accredited provider has mitigated and is disclosing identified relevant financial relationships for the following faculty, planners, and others in control of content prior to assuming their roles:  

Alexey V Danilov, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Hematology and Transplantation
Co-Director, Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center
City of Hope National Medical Center
Duarte, California

Advisory Committee: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, BeiGene Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, TG Therapeutics Inc; Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company; Contracted Research: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Gilead Sciences Inc, MEI Pharma Inc, Secura Bio, Takeda Oncology, TG Therapeutics Inc, Verastem Inc.

Susan O’Brien, MD
Associate Director for Clinical Science
Medical Director, Sue and Ralph Stern Center for Clinical Trials and Research
Chao Family Endowed Chair for Cancer Clinical Science
Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine
UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Orange, California

Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc, Aptose Biosciences Inc, Astellas, Autolus, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Gilead Sciences Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Biotech Inc, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Juno Therapeutics, a Celgene Company, Lilly, Merck, NOVA Research Company, Pfizer Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc, TG Therapeutics Inc, Vaniam Group, Verastem Inc, Vida Ventures; Contracted Research: Acerta Pharma — A member of the AstraZeneca Group, Caribou Biosciences Inc, Gilead Sciences Inc, Kite, A Gilead Company, Pfizer Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc, TG Therapeutics Inc.

Sonali M Smith, MD
Elwood V Jensen Professor of Medicine
Chief, Section of Hematology/Oncology
Co-Leader, Cancer Service Line
Co-Director, Lymphoma Program
The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Consulting Agreements: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Karyopharm Therapeutics, MorphoSys, TG Therapeutics Inc; Contracted Research: Acerta Pharma — A member of the AstraZeneca Group, Celgene Corporation, Epizyme Inc, Forty Seven Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Novartis, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc, TG Therapeutics Inc.

Julie M Vose, MD, MBA
Neumann M and Mildred E Harris Professor
Chief, Hematology/Oncology
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Advisory Committee: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company; Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Conjuro, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Janssen Biotech Inc, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Kite, A Gilead Company, MorphoSys, Oncternal Therapeutics, Roche Laboratories Inc, Umoja Biopharma; Contracted Research: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Epizyme Inc, Incyte Corporation, Kite, A Gilead Company, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, Novartis, Seagen Inc; Data and Safety Monitoring Board/Committee: MEI Pharma Inc.

Moderator
Matthew S Davids, MD, MMSc
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Director of Clinical Research
Division of Lymphoma
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts

Advisory Committee: AbbVie Inc, Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, Ascentage Pharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeiGene Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Lilly, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Takeda Oncology, TG Therapeutics Inc; Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeiGene Ltd, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Janssen Biotech Inc, Merck, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, TG Therapeutics Inc, Verastem Inc, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals; Contracted Research: AbbVie Inc, Ascentage Pharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, MEI Pharma Inc, Novartis, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Surface Oncology, TG Therapeutics Inc, Verastem Inc.

UNMC AND RESEARCH TO PRACTICE CE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF AND REVIEWERS —The below planning committee members have nothing to disclose:

Neil Love, MD — RTP President and Planner, Atif Hussein, MD — RTP Reviewer, Renee Paulin, MSN, RN, CWOCN — UNMC Planner and Reviewer, Brenda Ram, CMP, CHCP — UNMC Planner, Michele Williams, DNP, AGPCNP-BC— RTP Reviewer, and Kathryn Ault Ziel, PhD—RTP Staff and Planner.

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 and UNMC do 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, BeiGene Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Lilly, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company and Janssen Biotech Inc, administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, and TG Therapeutics Inc.

Release date: September 28, 2021
Expiration date: September 28, 2022