Cladribine in a weekly versus daily schedule for untreated active hairy cell leukemia: final report from the Polish Adult Leukemia Group (PALG) of a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial.

Author(s): Robak T, Jamroziak K, Gora-Tybor J, Blonski JZ, Kasznicki M, Dwilewicz-Trojaczek J, Wiater E, Zdunczyk A, Dybowicz J, Dmoszynska A, Wojtaszko M, Zdziarska B, Calbecka M, Kostyra A, Hellmann A, Lewandowski K, Stella-Holowiecka B, Sulek K, Gawronski K, Skotnicki AB, Nowak W, Zawilska K, Molendowicz-Portala L, Kloczko J, Sokolowski J, Warzocha K, Seferynska I, Ceglarek B, Konopka L

Affiliation(s): Department of Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, 93-513 Lodz, Poland. robaktad@csk.umed.lodz.pl

Publication date & source: 2007-05-01, Blood., 109(9):3672-5. Epub 2007 Jan 5.

Publication type: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, 2-CdA) treatment-associated infections may shorten potentially long-term survival in hairy cell leukemia (HCL). In search of the optimal mode of 2-CdA administration, 132 patients with untreated HCL were randomized to receive either standard 5-day 2-CdA protocol or a novel schedule of 6 weekly 2-CdA infusions suggested to be less toxic. Analysis of treatment response confirmed similar complete remission rates, overall response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival in both 2-CdA protocols. However, we did not observe lower toxicity in the weekly schedule. Of special interest, no significant differences were found in the rate of grade 3/4 infections (18% for daily and 26% for weekly protocol, difference -8.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -23.2% to 6.9%; P = .28) and the rate of septic deaths (3% for daily and 2% for weekly protocol, difference 1.4%; 95% CI -4.3% to 7.0%; P = .64). In conclusion, HCL treatment with weekly 2-CdA infusions is equally effective but no safer than the standard 5-day 2-CdA protocol.