Take a look at our CLL DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT PATHWAY IN NZ

March 1, 2025
|In News & media, Featured
|By Melanie Murray

 

This flow chart outlines the diagnosis and treatment pathway for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) in New Zealand, including the staging process, risk assessment, and available treatment options.

Key Points:

  • Diagnosis & Staging: Initial testing includes full blood count (FBC), immunophenotyping, and cytogenetic testing. Staging methods include Binet (used in NZ, UK, and Europe) and RAI (used in the US) to assess disease extent.
  • Treatment Pathways:
    • First-Line Treatments: Options vary based on patient fitness, including chemo-immunotherapy (FCR, Bendamustine-Rituximab) and targeted therapies like Ibrutinib, Idelalisib, and Venetoclax for certain genetic mutations.
    • Second-Line Treatment: Requires a different approach from the first-line therapy and includes targeted therapies, stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy, and corticosteroids.
  • Watch & Wait: For patients with stable disease, monitoring includes regular blood tests, skin cancer tests, physical exams, psychosocial support, and fatigue management.
  • Clinical Trials: Some new treatments being explored include CAR T-cell therapy, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and second-generation BCR/BCL-2 inhibitors.
  • Funding Status: Certain treatments are funded in NZ, while others remain unfunded.