Leukemia is either chronic or acute. Chronic leukemia slowly gets worse over time and symptoms occur as the number of leukemia cells increase. Often chronic leukemia is discovered during a routine checkup. The two types of chronic leukemia are chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), according to the National Cancer Institute. Treatment options are similar for the chronic leukemia types and treatment choices are based on age at diagnosis, the type of cancer cell and whether cancer cells are found in the spinal fluid.
Targeted Therapy and Biotherapy
Targeted therapy uses drugs or other types of therapies such as monoclonal antibodies to attack specific leukemia cells. Monoclonal antibodies are engineered to deliver drugs, radioactive materials or other toxins to the cancer cell, according to the NCI. Substances made from the patient’s body or manufactured in a laboratory are used to boost the immune system and are called biotherapy or immunotherapy.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation is used to treat parts of the body where leukemia cells have migrated or collected. These areas may include the spleen, brain, abdomen or other areas. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator to kill cancer cells. Whole body radiation may be used if a stem cell transplant is the treatment of choice, according to the NCI. Internal radiation is delivered using seeds, ribbons or capsules.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells. Drugs given orally or injected into a vein are called systemic chemotherapy. If the chemotherapy is injected directly into the spinal column or into an organ or body cavity such as the liver or abdomen, it is called regional chemotherapy. The type of chemotherapy depends on the type of chronic leukemia, but purine analogs and alkylating agents are used in CLL and interferons are most commonly used in CML, according to the American Cancer Society.
Surgery
Removing the spleen with surgery is an option used in CML to control abnormal blood cells that collect in the organ.
Stem Cell Transplant and Bone Marrow Transplant
After 10 years of followup, bone marrow transplant with donor cells or stem cell transplant is the only successful cure for CML, according to the National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used in conjunction with transplant. According to the American Cancer Society, it is not clear if the use of stem cell transplant in CLL is effective, but stem cells may be used after high-dose chemotherapy to help the patient recover from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs used in treatment.
