title: 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine in the treatment of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphoproliferative disorders.
abstract: 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) is a purine analog with cytotoxic activity on both resting and cycling lymphocytes which has been used as salvage therapy in advanced/resistant chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. In our study 39 patients (19 B-CLL, 5 B-PLL, 9 low-grade B-NHL, 5 CTCL and 1 high-grade T-NHL) who relapsed or became resistant after 1-4 chemotherapy regimens were treated with 2-CdA 6 mg/m2 per day by 2 h infusion for 5 d every 28 d. The overall clinical response rate, including complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR), was 66%. Two of 19 (10%) B-CLL patients achieved a CR lasting 9 months, while 11/19 B-CLL (58%) and 4/5 B-PLL (3 B-PLL/B-CLL and 1 B-PLL) (80%) achieved a PR. Interestingly, 5 of 6 patients who had been previously treated with fludarabine obtained a clinical response (2 CR and 3 PR). One of 9 (11%) low-grade B-NHL patients achieved a CR and relapsed after 26 months, and 5/9 (55%) achieved a PR. One of 5 (20%) CTCL achieved a CR lasting 32 months, while 2/5 (40%) achieved a PR. The overall mean duration of PR was 7.4 months and no differences were observed among different groups of patients. Toxicity was acceptable, as only a transient severe hematological impairment was observed in 20% of the patients while nonhematological toxicity was not documented. Two patients died because of bacterial pneumonia, 1 of meningitis due to Listeria and 9 from progression of the disease. In conclusion, treatment with 2-CdA in heavily pretreated patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders is well tolerated and obtains high response rates, even in patients relapsed after treatment with fludarabine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiotherapy Galvani, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rondelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauria
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raspadori
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galieni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birtolo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forconi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Algeri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017338:Cladribine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017338:Cladribine