Segment 09: The CLL Moon Shot Program

Abstract

Dr. Plunkett begins by explaining how Dr. Huang’s discoveries provided the basis for the CLL Moon Shots Program established under Dr. Ronald DePinho. He explains that Dr.Huang’s work began with the hypothesis that the repair of DNA in a cancer cell “could be our friend” if that repair included a compound, such as Fludarabine, that would ultimately inhibit the cell’s ability to function. He notes that this has set a standard of care for CLL and that remission rates have gone over 70%. Next he describes how that foundational work opened up investigative areas now included in the Moon Shots Program. Data managers have noticed that survivors of this treatment are developing secondary malignancies at a higher rate. Investigations are now focusing on biologically based strategies, asking How does CLL arise (a pathogenesis question) and What keeps it going (a question about pathophysiology). He describes the studies currently underway that address these questions from different perspectives. Next Dr. Plunkett explains how the CLL Moon Shot Program is structured and how the individual studies prioritized. He notes that patients today are very aware of CLL therapies and shop for treatment armed with information they have acquired from blogs and online sources. He explains the long and short-term aims of the CLL Moon Shots program.