Treatment pattern of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma in Korea: a multicenter retrospective study (KCSG LY20-06)
- Author:
Jung Sun KIM
1
;
Tae Min KIM
;
Myoung Joo KANG
;
Sung Ae KOH
;
Hyunkyung PARK
;
Seung-Hyun NAM
;
Jae Joon HAN
;
Gyeong-Won LEE
;
Young Jin YUH
;
Hee Jeong LEE
;
Jung Hye CHOI
Author Information
- Publication Type:2
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2023;38(5):747-757
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background/Aims:Little attention is paid to chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) in Korea due to the rarity of the disease. With its rising incidence, we aimed to evaluate recent changes in treatment patterns and survival outcomes of patients with CLL/SLL.
Methods:A total of 141 patients diagnosed with CLL/SLL between January 2010 and March 2020 who received systemic therapy were analyzed in this multicenter retrospective study.
Results:The median patient age was 66 years at diagnosis, and 68.1% were male. The median interval from diagnosis to initial treatment was 0.9 months (range: 0–77.6 months), and the most common treatment indication was progressive marrow failure (50.4%). Regarding first-line therapy, 46.8% received fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, plus rituximab (FCR), followed by chlorambucil (19.9%), and obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil (GC) (12.1%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 49.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.7–61.4), and median overall survival was not reached (95% CI, 98.4 mo– not reached). Multivariable analysis revealed younger age (≤ 65 yr) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; p < 0.001) and first-line therapy with FCR (HR, 0.64; p = 0.019) were independently associated with improved PFS. TP53 aberrations were observed in 7.0% (4/57) of evaluable patients. Following reimbursement, GC became the most common therapy among patients over 65 years and second in the overall population after 2017.
Conclusions:Age and reimbursement mainly influenced treatment strategies. Greater effort to apply risk stratifications into practice and clinical trials for novel agents could help improve treatment outcomes in Korean patients.
