RTP Mobile Logo
Cases from the Community: Investigators Discuss Available Research Guiding the Selection of Therapy for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Symposium Audio Proceedings)
Released January 2026

Featuring perspectives from Dr Matthew S Davids, Dr Bita Fakhri, Prof Constantine Tam and Dr Jennifer Woyach. Published January 2026.

CE Information and Faculty Disclosures

  • TARGET AUDIENCE
    This program is intended for hematologists, medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

    LEARNING OBJECTIVES

    • Individualize the selection of systemic therapy for patients with newly diagnosed CLL, considering new research findings, clinical presentation, biomarker profile, coexisting medical conditions and preferences for time-limited or continuous treatment.
    • Review the similarities and differences between covalent and noncovalent Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, and assess the implications for the efficacy and tolerability of these agents.
    • Evaluate available and emerging Phase III data demonstrating the efficacy of covalent and noncovalent BTK inhibitors as first-line therapy for CLL, and use this information to counsel patients regarding front-line treatment options.
    • Understand published research findings with Bcl-2 inhibitors in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies as first-line treatment for CLL, and counsel patients regarding the risks and benefits of this novel treatment strategy.
    • Appreciate the scientific rationale for the investigation of combined BTK and Bcl-2 inhibition, and review recently presented data documenting the safety and efficacy of this strategy for patients with CLL.
    • Discuss available clinical research demonstrating the efficacy and safety of noncovalent BTK inhibitors for relapsed/refractory CLL, and use this information to identify patients appropriate for treatment with these agents.
    • Evaluate the biological rationale for the investigation of CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for CLL, and identify patients for whom treatment with this novel therapeutic strategy would be appropriate.
    • Implement a plan of care to recognize and manage side effects and toxicities associated with available systemic therapies commonly employed in the treatment of CLL.
    • Recall available and emerging data with novel agents and combination strategies currently under investigation in CLL, and as applicable, refer eligible patients for clinical trial participation.

    ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
    Research To Practice is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
    Audio Program: Research To Practice designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Video Program: Research To Practice designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (ABIM) — MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION (MOC)
    Successful completion of these CME activities, which includes participation in the evaluation components and post-tests, enables the participant to earn up to 2.75 (audio) and 2.25 (video) Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for each activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

    Please note, these programs have been specifically designed for the following ABIM specialties: medical oncology and hematology.

    PRIVACY POLICY
    Personal information and data sharing: Research To Practice aggregates deidentified user data for program-use analysis, program development, activity planning and site improvement. We may provide aggregate and deidentified data to third parties, including commercial supporters. We do not share or sell personally identifiable information to any unaffiliated third parties or commercial supporters. Please see our privacy policy at ResearchToPractice.com/Privacy-Policy for more information.

    HOW TO USE THIS CE ACTIVITY
    Audio Program: This CME activity consists of an audio component. To receive credit, the participant should review the CME information, listen to the MP3s, review the downloadable slide set, complete the post-test with a score of 80% or better and fill out the evaluation located at ResearchToPractice.com/ASHCLL25/CME. The corresponding video program is available as an alternative at ResearchToPractice.com/ASHCLL25/Video.

    Video Program: This CME activity consists of a video component. To receive credit, the participant should review the CME information, watch the video, complete the post-test with a score of 80% or better and fill out the evaluation located at ResearchToPractice.com/ASHCLL25/Video/CME. The corresponding audio program is available as an alternative at ResearchToPractice.com/ASHCLL25.

    CONTENT VALIDATION AND DISCLOSURES
    Research To Practice (RTP) is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education and adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers and others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of this activity. In addition, all activity content is reviewed by RTP scientific staff and an external, independent physician reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

    FACULTY — The following faculty reported relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities:

    Matthew S Davids, MD, MMSc
    Associate Professor of Medicine
    Harvard Medical School
    Leader, Lymphoma Program
    Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
    Director of Clinical Research
    Division of Lymphoma
    Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    Boston, Massachusetts

    Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, Ascentage Pharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeOne, Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos NV, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genmab US Inc, Janssen Biotech Inc, Lilly, MEI Pharma Inc, Merck, Nuvalent, Schrödinger, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc; Contracted Research: Ascentage Pharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, MEI Pharma Inc, Novartis; Nonrelevant Financial Relationships: UpToDate.

    Bita Fakhri, MD, MPH
    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology)
    Stanford University School of Medicine
    Stanford, California

    Advisory Committees: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company; Contracted Research: AbbVie Inc, BeOne, Genmab US Inc, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company.

    Professor Constantine Tam, MBBS, MD
    Head of Lymphoma Service
    Alfred Health
    Professor of Haematology
    Monash University
    Melbourne, Australia

    No relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

    Jennifer Woyach, MD
    Professor
    Division of Hematology
    Department of Internal Medicine
    The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Columbus, Ohio

    Advisory Committees and Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeOne, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Janssen Biotech Inc, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, Merck, Newave, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company; Contracted Research: AbbVie Inc, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, MingSight Pharmaceuticals, MorphoSys, Schrödinger, Verastem Inc.

    MODERATOR — Dr Love is president and CEO of Research To Practice. Research To Practice receives funds in the form of educational grants to develop CME activities from the following companies: Aadi Bioscience, AbbVie Inc, ADC Therapeutics, Agendia Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc, Array BioPharma Inc, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, Arvinas, Astellas, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, BeOne, Biotheranostics Inc, A Hologic Company, Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celcuity, Clovis Oncology, Coherus BioSciences, Corcept Therapeutics Inc, CTI BioPharma, a Sobi Company, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Eisai Inc, Elevation Oncology Inc, Exact Sciences Corporation, Exelixis Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genmab US Inc, Geron Corporation, Gilead Sciences Inc, GSK, Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc, ImmunoGen Inc, Incyte Corporation, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Kite, A Gilead Company, Kura Oncology, Legend Biotech, Lilly, MEI Pharma Inc, Merck, Mersana Therapeutics Inc, Mirati Therapeutics Inc, Mural Oncology Inc, Natera Inc, Novartis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation on behalf of Advanced Accelerator Applications, Novocure Inc, Nuvalent, Nuvation Bio Inc, Pfizer Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Puma Biotechnology Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc, R-Pharm US, Sanofi, Seagen Inc, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC, SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc, Stemline Therapeutics Inc, Sumitomo Pharma America, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Oncology Inc, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc, TerSera Therapeutics LLC, and Tesaro, A GSK Company.

    RESEARCH TO PRACTICE CME PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF AND REVIEWERS — Planners, scientific staff and independent reviewers for Research To Practice have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

    These educational activities contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research To Practice does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings. The opinions expressed are those of the presenters and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantors.

    These activities are supported by educational grants from AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeOne, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Lilly.

    Release date: January 2026
    Expiration date: January 2027

    After completing the post-test, learners may download and review the answers here in order to identify further areas of study.

Acknowledge and close

Listen to audio
(WIFI is recommended for best performance):