Long term follow-up and late complications of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in previously treated, advanced, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the long term outcome and toxicities after the administration of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) to patients with previously treated, advanced, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).


METHODS
Twenty-two patients (median age, 55 years) with relapsed or refractory low grade NHL (median disease duration, 2.8 years) were treated with 2-CdA by continuous infusion at 0.1 mg/kg/day over 5 or 7 days every 28 days, for a maximum of 6 cycles.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 45%. Two patients (9%) achieved a complete response (CR), 8 patients (36%) achieved a partial response, and 12 patients (55%) had no response. The two patients achieving CR have remained in CR for 46 and 38 months, respectively. Freedom from treatment failure at 24 months was 32%. Overall survival at 24 months was 59%. Three patients developed second malignancies: acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome, and a cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder. Fourteen patients have died after a median follow-up of 28 months (range, 3.9-49.2 months) due to progressive NHL (11 patients), infection (2 patients), and AML (1 patient).


CONCLUSIONS
2-CdA is an active agent for patients with previously treated, advanced, indolent NHL and may result in lasting remissions. Late complications following treatment may include delayed bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Determination of whether the second malignancies that occurred in three patients reported herein were related to treatment with 2-CdA will require further study.
Kong
L R
LR
Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Huang
C F
CF
Hakimian
D
D
Variakojis
D
D
Klein
L
L
Kuzel
T M
TM
Gordon
L I
LI
Zanzig
C
C
Wollins
E
E
Tallman
M S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017338:Cladribine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000139:chemically induced; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000139:chemically induced; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017338:Cladribine