Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer in which the
bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (also called CLL) is a blood and
bone marrow disease that usually gets worse slowly. CLL is the second most
common type of leukemia in adults. It often occurs during or after middle age;
it rarely occurs in children.
Normally, the body makes blood stem cells (immature cells) that
develop into mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a
myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell.
The myeloid stem cell develops into one of three types of mature
blood cells:
- Red blood cells that carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of
the body.
- White blood cells that fight infection and disease.
- Platelets that help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form.
The lymphoid stem cell develops into a lymphoblast cell and then
into one of three types of lymphocytes (white blood cells):
- B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection.
- T lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make antibodies to fight
infection.
- Natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses.
In CLL, too many blood stem cells develop into abnormal
lymphocytes and do not become healthy white blood cells. The abnormal
lymphocytes may also be called leukemic cells. The lymphocytes are not able to
fight infection very well. Also, as the number of lymphocytes increases in the
blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red
blood cells, and platelets. This may result in infection, anemia, and easy
bleeding.
Older age can affect the risk of developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called
a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not
having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. People who think
they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. Risk factors for CLL
include the following:
- Being middle-aged or older, male, or white.
- A family history of CLL or cancer of the lymph system.
- Having relatives who are Russian Jews or Eastern European Jews.
Possible signs of chronic lymphocytic leukemia include swollen
lymph nodes and tiredness.
Usually CLL does not cause any symptoms and is found during a
routine blood test. Sometimes symptoms occur that may be caused by CLL or by
other conditions. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
- Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
- Feeling very tired.
- Pain or fullness below the ribs.
- Fever and infection.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
Tests that examine the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes are
used to detect (find) and diagnose chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check
general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps
or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits
and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample
of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
-
The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
-
The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
-
The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
Cytogenetic analysis: A test in which cells in a sample
of blood or bone marrow are viewed under a microscope to look for changes in the
structure or number of chromosomes in the lymphocytes.
Immunophenotyping: A test in which the cells in a sample
of blood or bone marrow are looked at under a microscope to find out if
malignant lymphocytes (cancer) began from the B lymphocytes or the T
lymphocytes.
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone
marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a hollow needle into the
hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone
under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
Certain factors affect treatment options and prognosis (chance of recovery).
Treatment options depend on:
- The stage of the disease.
- Red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet blood counts.
- Whether there are symptoms, such as fever, chills, or weight loss.
- Whether the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes are larger than normal.
- The response to initial treatment.
- Whether the CLL has recurred (come back).
The prognosis (chance of recovery) depends on:
- Whether there is a change in the DNA and the type of change, if there is
one.
- Whether lymphocytes are spread throughout the bone marrow.
- The stage of the disease.
- Whether the CLL gets better with treatment or has recurred (come back).
- Whether the CLL progresses to lymphoma or prolymphocytic leukemia.
- The patient's general health.
Stages of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
After chronic lymphocytic leukemia has been diagnosed, tests are
done to find out how far the cancer has spread in the blood and bone marrow.
Staging is the process used to find out how far the cancer has
spread. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan the
best treatment. The following tests may be used in the staging process:
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone
marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a hollow needle into the
hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone
under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the
chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto
film, making a picture of areas inside the body, such as the lymph nodes.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a
magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of
areas inside the body, such as the brain and spinal cord. This procedure is also
called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of
detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The
pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be
injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more
clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized
tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood
sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the
blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than
normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue
that makes it.
Antiglobulin test: A test in which a sample of blood is
looked at under a microscope to find out if there are any antibodies on the
surface of red blood cells or platelets. These antibodies may react with and
destroy the red blood cells and platelets. This test is also called a Coomb's test.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
When cancer cells spread outside the blood, a solid tumor may
form. This process is called metastasis. The three ways that cancer cells spread
in the body are:
- Through the blood. Cancer cells travel through the blood, invade
solid tissues in the body, such as the brain or heart, and form a solid
tumor.
- Through the lymph system. Cancer cells invade the lymph system,
travel through the lymph vessels, and form a solid tumor in other parts of
the body.
- Through solid tissue. Cancer cells that have formed a solid tumor
spread to tissues in the surrounding area.
The new (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the
primary cancer. For example, if leukemia cells spread to the brain, the cancer
cells in the brain are actually leukemia cells. The disease is metastatic
leukemia, not brain cancer.
The following stages are used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia:
Stage 0
In stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the
blood, but there are no other symptoms of leukemia. Stage 0 chronic lymphocytic
leukemia is indolent (slow-growing).
Stage I
In stage I chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the
blood and the lymph nodes are larger than normal.
Stage II
In stage II chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the
blood, the liver or spleen is larger than normal, and the lymph nodes may be
larger than normal.
Stage III
In stage III chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the
blood and there are too few red blood cells. The lymph nodes, liver, or spleen
may be larger than normal.
Stage IV
In stage IV chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the
blood and too few platelets. The lymph nodes, liver, or spleen may be larger
than normal and there may be too few red blood cells.
Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia is cancer that does not
get better with treatment.
Treatment Option Overview
There are different types of treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Different types of treatment are available for patients with
chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Some treatments are standard (the currently used
treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. A treatment clinical
trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain
information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials
show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new
treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about
taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients
who have not started treatment.
Five types of standard treatment are used:
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is closely monitoring a patient’s condition
without giving any treatment until symptoms appear or change. This is also
called observation. During this time, problems caused by the disease, such as
infection, are treated.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy
x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from
growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy
uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal
radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires,
or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the
radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the
growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from
dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle,
the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body
(systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal
column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, or the drugs mainly
affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the
chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Surgery
Splenectomy is surgery to remove the spleen.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other
substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal
cells. Monoclonal antibody therapy is a type of targeted therapy used in the
treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Monoclonal antibody therapy is a cancer treatment that uses
antibodies made in the laboratory from a single type of immune system cell.
These antibodies can identify substances on cancer cells or normal substances in
the body that may help cancer cells grow. The antibodies attach to the
substances and kill the cancer cells, block their growth, or keep them from
spreading. Monoclonal antibodies are given by infusion. They may be used alone
or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to cancer cells.
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
This section describes treatments that are being studied in
clinical trials. It may not mention every new treatment being studied.
Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant is a method of giving
chemotherapy and replacing blood-forming cells destroyed by the cancer
treatment. Stem cells (immature blood cells) are removed from the blood or bone
marrow of the patient or a donor and are frozen and stored. After the
chemotherapy is completed, the stored stem cells are thawed and given back to
the patient through an infusion. These reinfused stem cells grow into (and
restore) the body’s blood cells.
Biologic therapy
Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune
system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are
used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer.
This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy.
Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the
best treatment choice. Clinical trials are part of the cancer research process.
Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and
effective or better than the standard treatment.
Many of today's standard treatments for cancer are based on
earlier clinical trials. Patients who take part in a clinical trial may receive
the standard treatment or be among the first to receive a new treatment.
Patients who take part in clinical trials also help improve the
way cancer will be treated in the future. Even when clinical trials do not lead
to effective new treatments, they often answer important questions and help move
research forward.
Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after
starting their cancer treatment.
Some clinical trials only include patients who have not yet
received treatment. Other trials test treatments for patients whose cancer has
not gotten better. There are also clinical trials that test new ways to stop
cancer from recurring (coming back) or reduce the side effects of cancer
treatment.
Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country.
Follow-up tests may be needed.
Some of the tests that were done to diagnose the cancer or to
find out the stage of the cancer may be repeated. Some tests will be repeated in
order to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to
continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.
This is sometimes called re-staging.
Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time
after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if your condition
has changed or if the cancer has recurred (come back). These tests are sometimes
called follow-up tests or check-ups.
Treatment Options by Stage
For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials
listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but
may be right for you.
Stage 0 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Treatment of stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia is usually watchful waiting.
Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia
Treatment of stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV chronic lymphocytic
leukemia may include the following:
- Watchful waiting when there are few or no symptoms.
- Monoclonal antibody therapy.
- Chemotherapy with 1 or more drugs, with or without steroids or
monoclonal antibody therapy.
- Low- dose external radiation therapy to areas of the body where cancer
is found, such as the spleen or lymph nodes.
- A clinical trial of chemotherapy and biologic therapy with stem cell transplant.
Treatment Options for Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia may include the following:
- A clinical trial of chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.
- A clinical trial of a new treatment.
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical
Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with chronic lymphocytic
leukemia. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search
features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name
of the drug.
For more information from the NCI, please write to this address:
NCI Public Inquiries Office
Suite 3036A
6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer
Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through
Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers with TTY
equipment may call 1-800-332-8615. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site
Source: National Institutes of Health; National Cancer Institute
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This information is provided by theCleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 10/29/2009...#6210
