Clinical Context
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common type of leukemia characterized by the accumulation of functionally incompetent lymphocytes in the blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid tissues. The disease often progresses slowly, but patients can experience significant morbidity and mortality. Current treatment options include chemotherapy and targeted therapies, but many patients eventually relapse or become refractory to these treatments. There remains a pressing need for new therapeutic approaches that can effectively target CLL cells while minimizing toxicity. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a novel class of targeted therapy that combines the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxicity of potent drugs, allowing for more effective treatment with potentially fewer side effects. Zilovertamab vedotin, which targets the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1), has shown promise in preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials, leading to its evaluation in a larger cohort of patients.