SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions: The Conundrum in Assessing the Therapy Response of Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract

In 2018, the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) updated the guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Included were definitions for response, which incorporated consideration of the significance of minimal residual disease. Here we discuss the clinical significance of complete response or partial response, as defined in the 2018 iwCLL guidelines, and the relative value of assessing for minimal residual disease.

Keywords: Lymphadenopathy; Minimal residual disease (MRD); PR/CR; Response assessment; iwCLL guidelines.