Related Experiment Videos
[Hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine]
Waleed Ghanima1, Dag Heldal, Geir E Tjønnfjord
1Seksjon for blodsykdommer Medisinsk avdeling Rikshospitalet 0027 Oslo. wghanima@c2i.net
Summary
Cladribine treatment for hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) induces long-lasting remissions, though not a cure. Retreatment effectively normalizes blood counts in patients experiencing relapse.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a chronic, indolent B-cell malignancy.
- Cladribine has become a preferred treatment for HCL over the past decade.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy and outcomes of subcutaneous cladribine treatment in HCL patients.
- To assess remission duration, survival rates, and relapse patterns following cladribine therapy.
Summary:
- Long-term follow-up of 26 HCL patients treated with subcutaneous cladribine showed high initial response rates (84% complete remission, 12% partial remission).
- At a median of 6.8 years, 92% of patients survived, with one death due to infection and another from melanoma.
- Relapse occurred in 95% of patients, necessitating retreatment in 38% of complete and 67% of partial responders, which normalized peripheral blood counts.
Impact:
- Subcutaneous cladribine offers durable remissions in hairy cell leukaemia, significantly improving patient survival.
- While not curative, cladribine retreatment is effective in managing relapsed disease and restoring hematologic parameters.