Pentostatin induces durable remissions in hairy cell leukemia.
Fifty patients with hairy cell leukemia were treated with pentostatin (2'-deoxycoformycin; dCF) for a median of 3 months; 32 (64%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), and 10 (20%) patients achieved partial remission (PR), for an overall response rate of 84%. After reaching maximal response, no maintenance therapy was administered. The median duration of follow-up is now 39 months, and only four of 32 patients in CR and two of 10 patients in PR have relapsed. dCF therapy produces durable long-term, disease-free survival in patients with hairy cell leukemia.
Cassileth
P A
PA
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Cheuvart
B
B
Spiers
A S
AS
Harrington
D P
DP
Cummings
F J
FJ
Neiman
R S
RS
Bennett
J M
JM
O'Connell
M J
MJ
D006801:Humans; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015649:Pentostatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D015649:Pentostatin