Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, Vincristine and Prednisone Plus Rituximab (CHOP-R) in Fludarabine (F) Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) or CLL with Autoimmune Cytopenia (AIC) or Richter's Transformation (RT): Final Analysis of a Phase II Study of the German CLL Study Group

• Published in: Blood 2011-11, Vol.118 (21), p.2860-2860
• Main Authors: Jenke, Petra, Eichhorst, Barbara, Busch, Raymonde, Anheier, Nadine, Duehrsen, Ulrich, Duerig, Jan, Dreyling, Martin H., Bergmann, Manuela, Goebeler, Maria Elisabeth, Hurtz, Hans Juergen, Stauch, Martina Beate, Stilgenbauer, Stephan, Doehner, Hartmut, Fink, Anna-Maria, Fischer, Kirsten, Wendtner, Clemens-Martin, Hallek, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V118.21.2860.2860

Abstract 2860 In the last decade, important progress has been achieved in the treatment of CLL through the use of purine analog-based chemoimmunotherapies. Several conditions remain a challenge, often with a poor outcome. Amongst these therapeutic problems are Richter's transformation (RT), refractoriness to F-based therapies (Fref), and the occurrence of AIC, which are sometimes induced by F. Fref and RT pts have a very poor prognosis with an estimated overall survival (OS) of only 10 and 8 months (mos), respectively. Therefore, therapeutic alternatives are urgently warranted. CHOP-R has improved the outcome of pts with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To test the efficacy and tolerability of the CHOP-R regimen in CLL patients with RT, Fref, or AIC, the GCLLSG initiated a prospective phase II trial. Material and Methods: 62 patients were included in the study. Due to protocol violations, 2 patients were excluded. Within the group of Fref pts, the medical review detected 11 patients who had received pre-treatment with F (Fpret), but were not refractory according to the updated guidelines (Hallek et al., Blood 2008). Thus, 26 pts were classified as Fref/pret, 19 pts as AIC and 15 pts as RT. All patients received CHOP every 3 weeks (cyclophosphamide 750mg/m2, adriamycin 50mg/m2 and vincristine 1, 4mg/m2 d1; prednisone 100mg/m2 d1–5). Rituximab was added starting with the 2nd cycle (375mg/m2 on each d0, and 21 days after the last CHOP-R). RT pts received up to 8, Fref/pret and AIC up to 6 courses of CHOP-R. In case of PD after 3 cycles, pts went off-study. The primary endpoints were remission rate, quality and duration of response. 79%, 73%, and 40% of AIC, Fref/pret, and RT pts were male, respectively. The median age was 65 years (y) for Fref/pret-pts, 66y in the AIC and 69y in the RT group. Binet stages for Fref/pret pts were: A: 8%; B: 27% C: 65 %. All but 3 AIC pts were at Binet stage C. Initial RT stages according to Ann Arbor were: II: 13%, III: 13%, IV 73%. The median number of previous therapies were 3 for Fref/pret, 2 for AIC and 2 for RT. A total of 314 cycles were administered, with a median number of 3 cycles for AIC and Fref pts and a median number of 4 cycles for the RT group. Due to toxicity 73% of cycles in the Fref/pret group, 66% in the AIC and 87% in the RT group were dose-reduced. 69% of Fref/pret-pts and 58% of AIC-pts received full 6 cycles of therapy and only 40% of RT-pts completed 8 cycles of therapy. Treatment was stopped in 6 pts