Cladribine (2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine): new perspectives in clinical immunosuppression

Cladribine (2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine) has been recently introduced in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. We have shown that CdA has potent inhibitory activity in vitro and in vivo in concentrations readily achievable in the sera of treated patients. The immunosuppressive efficacy of CdA was at least equal to that of cyclosporine. Furthermore, CdA is particularly efficacious inhibitor of B cell activation.