In this interview, William Wierda, MD, PhD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, reveals the lower response rates seen with CAR T-cell therapy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) when compared to other diseases, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Speaking at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, CA, Prof. Wierda discusses the improvements being made to enhance these response rates, before introducing the latest data on CLL treatments, with particular reference to novel small molecule inhibitors.