Role of Low-Dose 2-CdA in Refractory or Resistant Lymphoplasmocytic Lymphoma

• Published in: Journal of chemotherapy (Florence) 2004-08, Vol.16 (4), p.388-391
• Main Authors: Cervetti, G., Galimberti, S., Cecconi, N., Caracciolo, F., Petrini, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Cladribine - administration & dosage; Cladribine - adverse effects; cladribrine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Leukemia, Hairy Cell - diagnosis; Leukemia, Hairy Cell - drug therapy; Leukemia, Hairy Cell - mortality; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - diagnosis; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - drug therapy; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - mortality; lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; non Hodgkin's lymphoma; Probability; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia - diagnosis; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia - drug therapy; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia - mortality; Waldenström's macroglobulinemia
• ISSN: 1120-009X; 1973-9478
• DOI: 10.1179/joc.2004.16.4.388

Cladribrine (2-CdA), a purine analogue active on both dividing and resting lymphocytes, plays an important role in the treatment of indolent lymphoproliferative malignancies such as Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Lymphoplasmocytic Lymphoma (LPL), Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM). With the aim of evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of low dose 2-CdA, 15 lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma patients, not eligible for more aggressive or standard therapies, because of age or poor performance status, were treated with the drug at a dose of 5 mg/m 2 , once a week for six total courses. All patients showed disease progression. Fourteen patients were valuable for response. In eleven out of these 14 (85.7%) disease progression stopped, with 21% having good hematological responses (one CR and two PR). The treatment was generally well tolerated, without serious infectious events. This schedule may be appropriate for the management of patients where the aim of the treatment is control of disease progression.