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Fludarabine therapy in hairy cell leukemia
H M Kantarjian1, J Schachner, M J Keating
1Department of Hematology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Cancer
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Fludarabine shows promising results for hairy cell leukemia (HCL). This study indicates fludarabine is an effective treatment option for both typical and variant HCL forms, even in resistant cases.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare B-cell malignancy.
- Treatment options for refractory or progressive HCL can be limited.
- Adenine nucleoside analogues represent a class of therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of fludarabine in patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL).
- To assess fludarabine's activity in both typical and variant forms of HCL.
- To investigate fludarabine's potential in cases resistant to prior treatments.
Main Methods:
- A case series involving three patients with resistant or progressive hairy cell leukemia (HCL).
- Two patients had typical HCL, and one had a variant form (HCL-variant).
- Fludarabine was administered intravenously at 30 mg/m2 daily for 5 days monthly.
Main Results:
- Two patients (one HCL, one HCL-variant) achieved partial responses.
- One patient demonstrated a minor response to fludarabine treatment.
- Encouraging activity was observed in both typical and variant HCL.
Conclusions:
- Fludarabine demonstrates encouraging efficacy in treating hairy cell leukemia (HCL), including variant forms.
- This study suggests fludarabine as a potential therapeutic option for HCL.
- Further clinical investigation of fludarabine in HCL is warranted.