title: Long-term follow-up after purine analogue therapy in hairy cell leukaemia.
abstract: Since 2006 when we last reviewed the literature concerning the use of purine analogues in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), results from several new and updated series have been published. Here we examine these reports and consider their implications for patient management. The two purine analogues pentostatin and cladribine remain the first-line treatments of choice for all patients with HCL. Although they have not been compared in randomised trials, they appear to be equally effective. A complete response is important for the long-term outcome and we look at how best this can be achieved. Evidence is emerging which supports the use of either purine analogue plus an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody after relapse, though questions remain concerning the scheduling of the monoclonal antibody. Patients refractory to the purine analogues may require alternative agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. Electronic address: monica.else@icr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Else
authors.affiliation: Department of Haemato-Oncology, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: claire.dearden@rmh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dearden
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. Electronic address: daniel.catovsky@icr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Catovsky
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017338:Cladribine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D015649:Pentostatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000077484:Vemurafenib
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib; D015649:Pentostatin; D017338:Cladribine; D000069283:Rituximab; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
keywords: Chemoimmunotherapy; Cladribine; Hairy cell leukaemia; Pentostatin; Purine analogue; Rituximab; Survival