Characteristics of Australian and New Zealand patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a lymphoma and related diseases registry report.

Abstract

Background: Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has evolved significantly with the advent of targeted agents. Real-world analysis of patients with CLL provides a better understanding of treatment efficacy and toxicity and informs planning of future trials; however, Australasian studies are limited.

Aims: Here we describe the demographics, disease characteristics, treatment and outcome for CLL patients enrolled in the Australia and New Zealand Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry (LaRDR).

Methods: This study included 365 patients aged ≥18 years with CLL diagnosed between January 2016 and May 2023.

Results: Median age at diagnosis was 68 years, with 65% being male. Median follow-up was 15.2 months (range 0-78). 11q, 13q, 17p deletions and trisomy 12 were detected in 12%, 54%, 11% and 14% respectively. During the period of follow-up, 38% of patients commenced first-line therapy. The use of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors and B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitors increased more than 10-fold following regulatory approval in 2020. Two-year progression-free and overall survival, measured from commencement of first-line therapy, were 67% (95% CI 55-76) and 87% (95% CI 78-93) respectively.

Conclusion: The increasing use of targeted agents largely reflected availability; however, continuing use of chemoimmunotherapy following regulatory approval of targeted agents was noted in 29% of patients in 2022.