title: Outpatient-based therapy of oral fludarabine and subcutaneous alemtuzumab for asian patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Background. Intravenous alemtuzumab and fludarabine are effective in combination for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but require hospital visits for intravenous injection. We performed a pilot study to assess the safety and efficacy of outpatient-based oral fludarabine with subcutaneous alemtuzumab (OFSA) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory CLL. Results. Depending on their response, patients were given two to six 28-day cycles of subcutaneous alemtuzumab 30 mg on days 1,3, and 5 and oral fludarabine 40 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days. Median patient age was 74. The lymphocyte counts of all five patients fell after the 1st cycle of treatment and reached normal/low levels on completion of 2 to 6 cycles of therapy. Platelet counts and hemoglobin were unaffected. All five patients achieved complete hematological remission, while two attained minimal residual disease negativity on 4-color flow cytometry. Conclusions. Our OFSA regimen was effective in elderly Asian patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, and it should be investigated further.
authors: Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608.
authors: William Y K
authors: WY
authors: Hwang
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Dearden
authors: Yvonne S M
authors: YS
authors: Loh
authors: Yeh C
authors: YC
authors: Linn
authors: Sim L
authors: SL
authors: Tien
authors: Gerrard K H
authors: GK
authors: Teoh
authors: Gee F
authors: GF
authors: How
authors: Kee K
authors: KK
authors: Heng
authors: Yeow T
authors: YT
authors: Goh
authors: Lai H
authors: LH
authors: Lee