title: Fludarabine plus alemtuzumab (FA) front-line treatment in young patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and an adverse biologic profile.
abstract: In 45, ≤ 60 years old patients with CLL and an adverse biologic profile, a front-line treatment with Fludarabine and Campath (Alemtuzumab(®)) was given. The overall response rate was 75.5%, the complete response rate (CR) 24.4% with the lowest CR rates, 16.7% and 8.3%, in 11q and 17p deleted cases. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 42.5% and 79.9%, respectively. PFS was significantly influenced by CLL duration, beta2-microglobulin, and improved by post-remissional stem cell transplantation. Front-line fludarabine and alemtuzumab showed a manageable safety profile and evidence of a benefit in a small series of CLL patients with adverse biologic features.
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mauro@bce.uniroma1.it.
authors: Francesca R
authors: FR
authors: Mauro
authors: Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Pugliese Ciaccio, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Molica
authors: Department of Hematology, Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Laurenti
authors: Ematology-BMT Unit, IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Agostino
authors: A
authors: Cortelezzi
authors: U.O.C. Ematologia 1, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.
authors: Angelo M
authors: AM
authors: Carella
authors: Hematology-BMT Unit, S. Maria Misericordia Hospital, University of Udine, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Zaja
authors: Department of Hematology, Hospital Ferrarotto, University of Catania, Italy.
authors: Annalisa
authors: A
authors: Chiarenza
authors: Department of Hematology, Local Health Unit of Pescara, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Angrilli
authors: Azienda Ospedaliera "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", Reggio Calabria, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Nobile
authors: Section of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Hematology and Respiratory Diseases, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Marasca
authors: Division of Hematology, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Messina, Italy.
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Musolino
authors: Department of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Papardo, Messina, Italy.
authors: Maura
authors: M
authors: Brugiatelli
authors: Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Diseases (GIMEMA), Rome, Italy.
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Piciocchi
authors: Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Diseases (GIMEMA), Rome, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Vignetti
authors: Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Diseases (GIMEMA), Rome, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Fazi
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Gentile
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria S
authors: MS
authors: De Propris
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Della Starza
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marilisa
authors: M
authors: Marinelli
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Chiaretti
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Del Giudice
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Nanni
authors: U.O. Ematologia con Trapianto, Università degli Studi Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Albano
authors: Department of Hematology, Arcispedale Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Cuneo
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Guarini
authors: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Foà
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine
keywords: Alemtuzumab; Biology; CLL; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Fludarabine; Young