[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-2-rcca-oncologists-outline-advances-increasing-survival-quality-of-life\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-2-rcca-oncologists-outline-advances-increasing-survival-quality-of-life\/","headline":"Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 2 RCCA Oncologists Outline Advances Increasing Survival, Quality of Life","name":"Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 2 RCCA Oncologists Outline Advances Increasing Survival, Quality of Life","description":"Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 2 RCCA Oncologists Outline Advances Increasing Survival, Quality of Life May 6, 2025 Several newer types of therapy have transformed the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)\u00a0in recent years, increasing survival and enhancing quality of life while reducing the proportion of patients who receive chemotherapy, according to two medical oncologists who practice […]","datePublished":"2025-05-06","dateModified":"2025-07-28","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/seo-user\/#Person","name":"Advance SEO","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/seo-user\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/25d521bea98e4070937950c92cd06d2b99615947d3d29e3682593c48f0372431?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/25d521bea98e4070937950c92cd06d2b99615947d3d29e3682593c48f0372431?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","width":506,"height":228}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-illustration.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-illustration.jpg","height":832,"width":1260},"url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-2-rcca-oncologists-outline-advances-increasing-survival-quality-of-life\/","about":["Leukemia"],"wordCount":1408,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 2 RCCA Oncologists Outline Advances Increasing Survival, Quality of Life\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 6, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeveral newer types of therapy have transformed the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)\u00a0in recent years, increasing survival and enhancing quality of life while reducing the proportion of patients who receive chemotherapy, according to two medical oncologists who practice with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists. RCCA serves patients at locations\u00a0throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area.\u201cCLL is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults,\u201d notes Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, who practices at RCCA\u2019s Howell, NJ, office. The board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist adds that CLL accounts for roughly one in three diagnoses of leukemia\u00a0in the U.S., with an estimated 23,690 new cases expected across the country in 2025.1\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoel Silver, who practices at RCCA\u2019s West Hartford, CT, office, explains that while there are many forms of leukemia, these cancers can be categorized based on how rapidly they progress and on the type of \u00a0bone marrow cells they affect. \u201cSlower-progressing leukemias are termed chronic, while faster-moving leukemia is classified as acute. Meanwhile, leukemia that causes abnormal cell growth in the bone marrow cells that develop into lymphocytes \u2013 a type of white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system \u2013 is described as lymphocytic. By contrast, when leukemia drives abnormal growth of bone marrow cells that mature into red blood cells, certain other white blood cells, or platelets, it is called myeloid or myelogenous leukemia. So CLL is a slower-progressing leukemia affecting the production of white blood cells that are critical to immune function,\u201d says the board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist.Significant Advances in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia TreatmentWhile CLL progresses at a relatively slow rate, the progress being made against\u00a0the disease has been rapid. \u201cData from the National Cancer Institute shows that the CLL death rate has been cut roughly in half over the past 30 years, with the 5-year relative survival rate now slightly above 88%,\u201d2\u00a0says Dr. Ahluwalia. He adds, \u201cMuch of that progress has come in just the last few years, as advances in our understanding of the biology of CLL have guided development of therapies that enable us to target each patient\u2019s disease in a very specific manner.\u201d\u201cPeople newly diagnosed with CLL have never had greater cause for hope, and further advances are on the near horizon.\u201d — Joel Silver, MDDr. Silver explains, \u201cA decade or more ago, CLL frequently was treated with chemotherapy agents, such as chlorambucil, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide.3\u00a0Today, oncologists can draw upon more than 25 FDA-approved therapies to individualize our treatment plans for patients.4\u00a0Most of these agents are not chemotherapies but instead inhibit the molecular pathways and signaling that facilitate CLL progression.3\u00a0Beyond those targeted therapies, there is a considerable research focus on the use of immunotherapy, which enhances the immune system\u2019s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells, to treat CLL.\u201dDr. Ahluwalia says, \u201cThanks to these advances, chemotherapy plays a less-prominent role in the management of CLL than it did just a few years ago. While patients understandably welcome this news because of the potential side effects of chemo, it is important to keep four points in mind when you and your oncologist are discussing treatment plans. First, because CLL progresses slowly, between 15% and 30% of patients may be able to defer treatment for many years so long as they are closely monitored and do not have evidence of worsening.5\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSecond, all therapies carry the potential for adverse effects, and while the side effects of targeted therapies\u00a0often are milder than those seen with chemotherapy, it remains important to be alert for potential problems and promptly report them to your doctor. Third, chemotherapy remains a valuable, life-prolonging treatment for many patients, so if it is the preferred choice for you based on the nature of your CLL, that is not a bad thing or some sort of \u2018defeat.\u2019 Rather, it means that you can make use of a treatment that offers the best outcomes for your particular situation. Fourth and finally, our progress in developing agents to treat CLL has been matched by advances in our ability to prevent and mitigate the side effects of therapy, including chemotherapy. As a result, we are able to treat CLL in a way that not only extends life but that also protects quality of life.\u201d\u201cWe are able to treat CLL in a way that not only extends life but that also protects quality of life.\u201dManmeet Singh Ahluwalia, MDDr. Silver adds, \u201cIn more than 30 years of practicing oncology, I have been privileged to witness dramatic advances in our ability to treat many forms of cancer and to employ those advances in caring for my patients. CLL represents one of the great success stories in this regard. We absolutely need to make further progress, as more than 4,400 people across the U.S. are expected to lose their lives to the CLL this year,1\u00a0but at the same time, people newly diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia have never had greater cause for hope, and more advances are on the near horizon.\u201d++++++++Dr. Ahluwalia and Dr. Silver are among 100+ medical oncologists and hematologists\u00a0who practice with RCCA at 25 locations\u00a0across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C.,\u00a0area. RCCA\u2019s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients\u2019 other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies\u00a0and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300\u00a0clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide\u00a0infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions\u2014including\u00a0multiple sclerosis,\u00a0Crohn\u2019s disease,\u00a0asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and\u00a0rheumatoid arthritis\u2014who take intravenously-administered medications.To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222, contact us\u00a0or request an appointment.ReferencesAmerican Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Available at https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia\/about\/key-statistics.html. Accessed March 30, 2025.National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia \u2014 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Available at https:\/\/seer.cancer.gov\/statfacts\/html\/clyl.html. Accessed March 30, 2025.Iyer P, Wang L. Emerging therapies in CLL in the era of precision medicine. Cancers. 2023;15:1583. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/cancers15051583.National Cancer Institute. Drugs approved for leukemia. Available at https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/treatment\/drugs\/leukemia#drugs-approved-for-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-cll. Accessed April 2, 2025.CLL Society. FAQ \u2014 CLL Treatment. Available at https:\/\/cllsociety.org\/cll-sll-patient-education-toolkit\/faq-treatment\/. Accessed April 1, 2025.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twe are here for you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the\u00a0RCCA location\u00a0nearest you.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequest an appointment\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRELATED ARTICLES\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy Are Leukemia Diagnoses Rising in Northern New Jersey? RCCA Hematologist Jamie Koprivnikar, MD, Provides Expert Insights\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLeukemia diagnoses are rising in northern New Jersey even as they fall nationwide, with Sussex and Morris counties outpacing the statewide average. Board-certified hematologist and\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCancers Most Likely To Benefit From Targeted Monoclonal Immunotherapy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOne of the most effective ways to treat cancer is to harness the power of the body\u2019s own immune system. This method is called immunotherapy.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTreatments for Hematologic Cancers (Blood Cancers)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHematologic cancer, or blood cancer, is one of the most common diagnoses treated at Regional Cancer Care Associates. Blood cancer refers to types like leukemia\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChronic lymphocytic leukemia: Fast factsRepresents about 1 in 3 new cases of leukemia in the U.S.1Accounts for about 1% of cancers overall1Approximately 23,690 new cases expected in U.S. in 20251Estimated 4,460 deaths from CLL in U.S. in 20251Slightly more common among men than women1Average age at diagnosis is around 70 years1Five-year relative survival rate is 88.1%2Death rate for 2017-2021 was 0.8 per 100,000 people per year, down from roughly 2.0 per 100,000 people per year in 19922Sources: 1. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Available at https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia\/about\/key-statistics.html. Accessed March 30, 2025. 2. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia \u2014 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Available at https:\/\/seer.cancer.gov\/statfacts\/html\/clyl.html. Accessed March 30, 2025.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 2 RCCA Oncologists Outline Advances Increasing Survival, Quality of Life","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-2-rcca-oncologists-outline-advances-increasing-survival-quality-of-life\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]