The treatment of hairy cell leukemia: an update.
The treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) requires continuing update. The role for splenectomy is extremely limited. Alfa-interferon therapy has been available and utilized for five years; there have been few complete remissions. The experience with Pentostatin has resulted in a majority of clinical complete remissions after several months of therapy, but persistence of a small percentage of hairy cells in the bone marrow. The most recent therapeutic agent, 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine (2-CDA) is given for seven days and results in a complete remission in the great majority of patients with no evidence of persistent bone marrow disease. If this trend persists, 2-CDA will become first line therapy for HCL as it may cure the disease.
Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Il.
H M
HM
Golomb
M J
MJ
Ratain
R
R
Mick
K
K
Daly
D015762:2-Chloroadenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017338:Cladribine; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D015649:Pentostatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013156:Splenectomy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D015649:Pentostatin; D017338:Cladribine