Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Navigating First-Line and MRD-Guided Treatment Options

The benefit and risk of continuous versus time-limited (fixed-duration or MRD-guided) treatment approach should be carefully evaluated prior to the selection of first-line therapy. While continuous treatment with covalent BTK inhibitor (cBTKi) monotherapy does not typically result in undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD), time-limited treatment with BCL2 inhibitor (BCL2i)-containing regimens results in higher rates of uMRD than cBTKi monotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy. The NCCN Guidelines® for CLL/SLL recommend serial MRD evaluations every three to six months during active treatment (using either flow cytometry or NGS assay with a sensitivity for the detection of at least 10-4 CLL cells in blood or bone marrow) as outlined in the published trial protocols that support MRD-guided treatment options. There is a continuing need to educate clinicians about the recent advances as this will aid in the successful implementation of more effective treatment options with MRD assessment in routine clinical practice.

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of oncologists, hematologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physician associates, and other health care professionals who manage patients with hematologic malignancies.

Learning Objectives

  • Summarize the data from clinical trials on the use of fixed-duration and continuous treatment regimens in patients with newly diagnosed CLL/SLL.
  • Recognize the significance of MRD assessment and discuss the development of MRD-guided treatment plan for patients with newly diagnosed CLL/SLL.

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Additional information
Supporters: 

Supported by educational grants from:

  • AstraZeneca
  • BeOne
  • Blueprint Medicines, a Sanofi company
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Novartis
  • PharmaEssentia

Supported by an independent medical education grant from AbbVie.

This activity is supported through an independent educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 0.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credit
  • 0.75 ACPE contact hours
  • 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.75 ANCC contact hours
    • 0.75 ANCC Pharmacology Contact Hours
  • 0.75 Participation
Course opens: 
10/20/2026
Course expires: 
11/15/2027
Part of: 
Recorded Presentations from the NCCN 2026 Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies™
Presenters
Matthew J. Cortese, MD, MPH
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
NCCN Continuing Education Disclosure Policy
It is the policy of NCCN that all planners, faculty, moderators, authors, reviewers and anyone involved in the planning and delivery of NCCN continuing education activities are expected to disclose ALL financial relationships they have had in the past 24 months with ineligible companies. The ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence require that individuals who refuse to provide this information will be disqualified from involvement in the planning and implementation of accredited continuing education presented by NCCN. NCCN identifies, mitigates and discloses to learners all relevant financial relationships.
 
In addition, all content has been reviewed to ensure education promotes safe, effective patient care and does not promote the products or services of an ineligible company. Content, including any presentation of therapeutic options, is fair, balanced, evidence-based, scientifically accurate, and free of commercial bias and marketing. 
 
Definitions  
Ineligible Company: An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. 
 
Relevant Financial Relationships: Financial relationships of any dollar amount occurring within the past 24 months are defined as relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of an ineligible company. There is no minimum financial threshold. We ask for disclosure of ALL financial relationships with ineligible companies, regardless of the amount and regardless of the potential relevance of each relationship to the education.
 
Faculty Disclaimers
All faculty for this continuing education activity are competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, training, and/or preparation for the tasks and methods of delivery. Faculty presentations may include discussion of off-label use. Faculty will disclose that the use in question is not currently approved by the FDA per the product labeling or marketing.
 
Faculty Disclosures
The faculty listed below have the following relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated. 
 
Matthew J. Cortese, MD, MPH
AbbVie, Inc.: Consulting Fee; Product/Speakers Bureau; Scientific Advisor
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP: Consulting Fee; Product/Speakers Bureau; Scientific Advisor
Bristol Myers Squibb: Consulting Fee; Honoraria; Scientific Advisor
Genmab A/S: Consulting Fee
Secura Bio, Inc.: Consulting Fee; Scientific Advisor
Synthekine: Consulting Fee; Scientific Advisor
 
Andrew D. Zelenetz, MD, PhD (Congress Chair and Moderator)
AbbVie, Inc.: Consulting Fee
Arvinas, Inc.: Grant/Research Support
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP: Consulting Fee
BeiGene: Consulting Fee; Grant/Research Support
Bristol Myers Squibb / Celgene Corporation / Juno Therapeutics, Inc.: Scientific Advisor
Curio Science: Consulting Fee
DAVA Oncology LP: Consulting Fee
Lilly: Consulting Fee
Genentech, Inc. / Roche: Consulting Fee; Grant/Research Support
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Kite Pharma): Consulting Fee
GSK: Grant/Research Support
Ipsen: Consulting Fee
MEI Pharma Inc.: Consulting Fee
Pharmacyclics: Grant/Research Support
 
NCCN Staff Disclosures
None of the other planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
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In support of improving patient care, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians
NCCN designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
NCCN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.75 contact hour. This activity offers 0.75 pharmacotherapeutic contact hour for nurses.

Pharmacists
NCCN designates this knowledge-based continuing education activity for 0.75 contact hour (0.075 CEUs) of continuing education credit. UAN: JA4008196-0000-26-100-H01-P

Physician Associates
NCCN has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credit. Approval is valid until November 15, 2027. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification (MOC)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn 0.75 MOC point 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 the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
 
Aggregated participant data will be shared with the commercial supporters of this activity.
American Board of Pathology Continuing Certification (CC)
This activity has been registered to offer credit in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program. Successful completion of this CME activity enables the participant to earn 0.75 Lifelong Learning (Part II) credit.
 
Aggregated participant data will be shared with the commercial supporters of this activity.
American Board of Medical Specialties Maintenance of Certification (MOC)
Through the American Board of Medical Specialties (“ABMS”) ongoing commitment to increase access to practice relevant Continuing Certification Activities through the ABMS Continuing Certification Directory, NCCN 2026 Hematologic Malignancies Congress has met the requirements as a Lifelong Learning CME Activity (apply toward general CME requirement) for the following ABMS Member Boards: 
 
ABMS Lifelong Learning CME Activity
Radiology
 
Permission to Upload Credits
For ABIM, ABPath, and ABS MOC points, your information will be shared with your board through NCCN's Joint Accreditation Program and Activity Reporting System (JA-PARS). Please allow 6-8 weeks for your MOC points to appear on your board records. By sharing your Diplomate Board ID # and DOB, you are giving NCCN permission to use this information/data to report your participation to these boards via JA-PARS.

Available Credit

  • 0.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credit
  • 0.75 ACPE contact hours
  • 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.75 ANCC contact hours
    • 0.75 ANCC Pharmacology Contact Hours
  • 0.75 Participation
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Required Hardware/software

To complete this activity, users will need:

  • A device with an Internet connection and sound playback capability (speakers or a headset)
  • Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for certificate viewing/printing