Natural History Study of Monoclonal B Cell Lymphocytosis (MBL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL), Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (LPL)/Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM), and Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma (SMZL)
Testing Early Treatment for Patients With High-Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) or Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL), EVOLVE CLL/SLL Study
A Study of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Treated With Lisocabtagene Maraleucel in the Post-Marketing Setting
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A Study of Nemtabrutinib Plus Venetoclax vs Venetoclax + Rituximab (VR) in Second-line (2L) + Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL) (MK-1026-010/BELLWAVE-010).
CD19/CD22 Bicistronic Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells in Children and Young Adults With Recurrent or Refractory B Cell Malignancies
Azacitidine, Venetoclax, and Gilteritinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent/Refractory FLT3-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, or High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm
What is chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, is a slow growing cancer of B lymphocytes that build up in the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Most people are diagnosed around age 70, often with no symptoms; when symptoms come, they include tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, frequent infections, night sweats, and weight loss. Small lymphocytic lymphoma is the same disease when the cells sit mainly in lymph nodes, so it is studied in the same trials.
When treatment is needed, it is now mostly targeted pills: BTK inhibitors taken continuously, or venetoclax based combinations taken for a fixed time. CAR T cell therapy was approved for CLL in 2024 for people whose disease has stopped responding to both. Genetic features such as TP53 mutation, deletion 17p, and IGHV status strongly predict how CLL behaves and which trials fit. Other leukemias are on our leukemia clinical trials page.
Types of CLL clinical trials
Early treatment trials. Whether treating high risk CLL before symptoms improves outcomes compared with watch and wait.
Fixed duration trials. Combinations of BTK and BCL2 inhibitors taken for a set time, aiming for long remissions without ongoing treatment.
Next generation drug trials. New BTK and BCL2 inhibitors, including for disease that stopped responding to earlier drugs.
Immunotherapy trials. Bispecific antibodies and CAR T cells used as consolidation or at relapse; see CAR T cell therapy.
Trials for older adults. Large cooperative group studies built for people 65 and older, the majority of patients.
Measurable residual disease studies. Sensitive tests that help decide when treatment can safely stop.
Who can participate in CLL clinical trials?
Trials sort people by whether they have been treated. Untreated trials enroll people who have never had therapy, either because treatment is now needed or, in early treatment studies, because they have high risk genetics but no symptoms yet. Relapsed trials specify prior drugs, often whether a BTK inhibitor or venetoclax has already been used. Most require genetic results such as TP53, deletion 17p, and IGHV, adequate organ function, and the ability to manage daily activities, and many are designed for people 65 and older. Eligibility always varies by study.
How CLL is staged, and why it matters for trials
Rai and Binet stages. Based on blood counts and how many lymph node areas are involved; higher stages usually mean treatment is needed.
Whether treatment is indicated. Symptoms, falling blood counts, or a rapidly rising lymphocyte count; untreated trials usually require one of these.
Genetic risk. TP53 mutation or deletion 17p and unmutated IGHV mean higher risk and often different trials.
Treatment history. Treatment naive or relapsed, and which drug classes have been used.
How to enroll in a CLL clinical trial
Identify your trial. Use the filters and match "treatment naive" or "relapsed" and any genetic feature to your situation.
Select your preferred location. Enter your city or state; cooperative group trials run at hundreds of sites, including community practices.
Explore study details. Click "Learn More" for prior treatment rules, genetic requirements, and the visit schedule.
Complete the health profile. Click "Get started" to begin the 5-step application. Have ready your stage and whether treatment has been recommended, your genetic results, and any prior CLL treatments.
Submit the application. A clinical trial coordinator reviews it and contacts you. Nothing is decided until informed consent, and participation is voluntary at every step.