Novel treatment strategies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The recent introduction of new active agents has led to a renaissance of clinical investigation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These agents include three purine analogues, (pentostatin, fludarabine, and cladribine) and two monoclonal antibodies (rituximab and CAMPATH I-H). Careful clinical studies have allowed for the development of novel combinations of two and even three non-cross- resistant agents. These preliminary studies indicate that such combinations can induce complete responses in a larger proportion of patients than can single-agent therapy. In CLL, survival is superior for patients achieving a complete response compared with patients achieving a partial response. Therefore, strategies designed to induce high-quality responses in the majority of patients may one day lead to improved survival or possibly even cure in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Weiss
M A
MA
Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017338:Cladribine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015649:Pentostatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012737:Sex Factors; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002699:Chlorambucil; D015649:Pentostatin; D017338:Cladribine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine