title: Retrospective analysis of 34 cases of hairy cell leukemia treated with interferon-alpha and/or 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the outcome of patients affected by typical hairy cell leukemia (HCL) treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and/or 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CdA). Thirty-four consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. IFN was administered in 26 cases as first line therapy at a dose of 3 MU every other day for 12 months. 2CdA was given in 8 cases as first-line and in 14 cases as second-line therapy in patients resistant to (2 cases) or relapsed after (12 cases) IFN. The treatment schedule for 2CdA was 0.1 mg/kg/daily for 7 days for 1 cycle (17 patients) or 2 cycles (5 patients). Complete (CR) and partial remission (PR) were 19% and 58%, respectively, for IFN, 75% and 25% for 2CdA in first-line therapy, 86% and 14% for 2CdA in second-line therapy. Median progression-free survival for IFN patients was 19 months and no statistical advantage was detected for those who achieved a CR vs those in PR. In the group treated with 2CdA, only 1 patient (4%) relapsed after a median follow-up of 14 months. At a median follow-up of 59 months (range 4-134), overall survival of all 34 patients was 97%, with only 1 patient having died of an acute leukemia. Our results confirm the favorable outcome currently expected for HCL and emphasize the therapeutic activity of 2CdA in the treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical and Morphological Research, Udine University Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaja
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fanin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Infanti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017338:Cladribine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D017338:Cladribine