Hairy cell leukemia

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Untreated

Cladribine (Leustatin)

Regimen #1, Tallman, et al. 1996

Level of Evidence: Phase II

• Cladribine (Leustatin) 0.1 mg/kg/day IV continuous infusion on days 1 to 7 (total dose per cycle: 0.7 mg/kg)

7-day course

Regimen #2, Zenhäusern, et al. 2009 (SAKK 32/98)

Level of Evidence: Phase III

• Cladribine (Leustatin) 0.14 mg/kg/day IV continuous infusion on days 1 to 5 (total dose per cycle: 0.7 mg/kg)

5-day course

Regimen #3, Zenhäusern, et al. 2009 (SAKK 32/98)

Level of Evidence: Phase III

• Cladribine (Leustatin) 0.14 mg/kg/day IV once per day on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

5-week course

References

1. Tallman MS, Hakimian D, Rademaker AW, Zanzig C, Wollins E, Rose E, Peterson LC. Relapse of hairy cell leukemia after 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine: long-term follow-up of the Northwestern University experience. Blood. 1996 Sep 15;88(6):1954-9. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
2. Update: Chadha P, Rademaker AW, Mendiratta P, Kim B, Evanchuk DM, Hakimian D, Peterson LC, Tallman MS. Treatment of hairy cell leukemia with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA): long-term follow-up of the Northwestern University experience. Blood. 2005 Jul 1;106(1):241-6. Epub 2005 Mar 10. link to original article contains protocol PubMed content property of HemOnc.org
3. Zenhäusern R, Schmitz SF, Solenthaler M, Heim D, Meyer-Monard S, Hess U, Leoncini L, Bargetzi M, Rufener B, Tobler A. Randomized trial of daily versus weekly administration of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in patients with hairy cell leukemia: a multicenter phase III trial (SAKK 32/98). Leuk Lymphoma. 2009 Sep;50(9):1501-11. doi: 10.1080/10428190903131755. link to original article contains protocol PubMed

Cladribine & Rituximab

Regimen, Ravandi et al. 2011

Level of Evidence: Phase II

• Cladribine (Leustatin) 5.6 mg/m2 IV 2 hours daily for 5 days

28 days after administration of cladribine, bone marrow examination was repeated, and then rituximab was started

• Rituximab (Rituxan) 375 mg/m2 IV weekly for 8 weeks

Supportive medications: All were administered at the discretion of the treating physician

• Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• Valcyclovir (Valcyte)
• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Allopurinol (Aloprim)
• Filgrastim (Neupogen)

References

1. Ravandi F, O'Brien S, Jorgensen J, Pierce S, Faderl S, Ferrajoli A, Koller C, Challagundla P, York S, Brandt M, Luthra R, Burger J, Thomas D, Keating M, Kantarjian H. Phase 2 study of cladribine followed by rituximab in patients with hairy cell leukemia. Blood. 2011 Oct 6;118(14):3818-23. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed

Pentostatin (Nipent)

Level of Evidence: Phase II

• Pentostatin (Nipent) 5 mg/m2 IV over 2 minutes once per day on days 1 & 2

14-day cycles, continued to the point of maximal response or treatment failure

Supportive medications:

• Allopurinol (Aloprim) 300 mg PO once per day in "the initial courses of treatment" for prophylaxis

References

1. Cassileth PA, Cheuvart B, Spiers AS, Harrington DP, Cummings FJ, Neiman RS, Bennett JM, O'Connell MJ. Pentostatin induces durable remissions in hairy cell leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 1991 Feb;9(2):243-6. link to original article contains protocol PubMed

Relapsed

Rituximab

Regimen, Nieva et al. Blood 2003

Level of Evidence: Phase II

• Rituximab (Rituxan) 375 mg/m2 IV weekly for 4 consecutive weeks
  • Initial infusions were given at 50 mg per hour for the first 30 minutes, and if no toxicity was observed, the infusion rate was escalated at 30-minute intervals to a peak infusion rate of 300 mg per hour.

Supportive medications:

• Allopurinol (Aloprim) 300 mg PO once per day for the first 7 days of treatment

References

1. Nieva J, Bethel K, Saven A. Phase 2 study of rituximab in the treatment of cladribine-failed patients with hairy cell leukemia. Blood. 2003 Aug 1;102(3):810-3. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed