• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Monoclonal antibody therapy
• Watchful waiting

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are five standard treatments for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL):¹

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy works by either killing cancer cells or by stopping cancer cells
from dividing and multiplying. There are 2 kinds of chemotherapy. Systemic chemotherapy reaches cancer cells throughout the body. This kind of chemotherapy is taken by the mouth or injected. Regional chemotherapy is targeted at cancer cells in specific areas of the body. With this treatment, chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body
cavity like the abdomen. The kind of chemotherapy patients receive depends
on the type and stage of their cancer.

Back to top

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are 2 kinds of radiation therapy. With external radiation therapy, a machine outside the body sends radiation toward the cancer. With internal radiation therapy, a radioactive substance sealed in needles or catheters is placed directly into or near the cancer. The kind of radiation patients receive depends on the type and stage of their cancer.

Back to top

Surgery

Surgical removal of the spleen may be necessary for certain patients with advanced CLL. This procedure is called a splenectomy.

Back to top

Monoclonal antibody therapy

Antibodies made in the laboratory can be used to identify substances on cancer cells or normal substances in the body that may help cancer cells grow. After identifying these substances, the antibodies can attach to them and kill the cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are given by infusion. They can be used alone or they can act as "messengers," carrying drugs directly to cancer cells.

Back to top

Watchful waiting

"Watch and wait" means the healthcare professionals will watch for signs and symptoms of disease and wait until the disease progresses before starting treatment. The watch-and-wait stage can last for many years in some patients. Other patients may require treatment at the time of diagnosis or soon after diagnosis.

Back to top

TREANDA for injection is indicated for the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen. TREANDA is also indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Efficacy relative to first-line therapies other than chlorambucil has not been established.

The following serious adverse reactions have been associated with TREANDA: myelosuppression, infections, infusion reactions and anaphylaxis, tumor lysis syndrome, skin reactions including SJS/TEN, other malignancies, and extravasation. Some of these reactions have been fatal, including myelosuppression, infections, and SJS/TEN (when TREANDA was administered concomitantly with allopurinol and other medications known to cause SJS/TEN). Patients should be monitored closely for these reactions and treated promptly if any occur. Adverse reactions may require interventions such as decreasing the dose of TREANDA, or withholding or delaying treatment. Myelosuppression is frequently severe and should be expected when treating patients with TREANDA.

TREANDA is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to bendamustine or mannitol. Women should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while using TREANDA.

The most common non-hematologic adverse reactions associated with TREANDA (frequency ≥15%) are nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, pyrexia, constipation, anorexia, cough, headache, weight decreased, dyspnea, rash, and stomatitis. The most common hematologic abnormalities associated with TREANDA (frequency ≥15%) are lymphopenia, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia.

Please see full Prescribing Information.