title: Nelarabine for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma.
abstract: Nelarabine (506U78) is a soluble prodrug of 9- Darabinofuranosylguanine (ara-G), a deoxyguanosine derivative. Nelarabine has significant activity in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and lymphoma (T-LBL). Principal toxicity is grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Neurologic toxicity with Guillain-Barré syndrome, depressed level of consciousness, and peripheral neuropathy are concerning side effects. Nelarabine is well tolerated and has significant antitumor activity in T-ALL and T-LBL. Nelarabine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with T-ALL/LBL who failed at least two prior regimens. Nelarabine is being explored in children and will be explored in the near future in adults with newly diagnosed T-ALL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. ddeangelo@partners.org
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: DeAngelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001087:Arabinonucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016879:Salvage Therapy
chemical_list: D001087:Arabinonucleosides; C104457:nelarabine