iwCLL 2013: Dr. Jan Burger Discusses More Details on How the New Targets Therapies (TKIs) work in CLL

In the second of my three part interview with Dr. Burger out of MDACC, we get into some of the gritty details about how the new novel agents such as ibrutinib or idelalisib work in the nodes, blood and marrow.

This video interview assumes you know some of the basic of how these kinase inhibitors block homing, anchoring, and communication of our malignant B cells. For a refresher, see my earlier post from iwCLL with Dr. Burger

Here in part two of that same interview, he tackles the thornier issue of the effects of the novel small molecules in terms of clearing the marrow and also discusses what we know and don't know about their ability to directly killing the cancer cells.

We are still in the very early stages of this research, and the old cliches ring true about the more we learn, the more we realize we don't know.

Some may argue that we know that they work great and that's good enough, but until we get a better handle on how they work, what are their weaknesses and strengths, we run the risk that we may not be using them in the optimal way in terms of the combinations, sequencing and duration of therapy.

This is critical stuff, and we need to fill in the details to improve long term outcomes.

We know they are very active (that is medical talk for the fact that they work) and very well tolerated.

We know that they are kinder to the marrow.

What we don't know is how and when to best use them.

We are lucky to have so many fine doctor/scientists such as Dr. Burger interested in CLL research who can translate what they are learning in their labs to help the patients in their clinics.


More soon.