Long-term outcome following treatment of hairy cell leukemia with pentostatin (Nipent): a National Cancer Institute of Canada study.

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that pentostatin (Nipent; SuperGen, San Ramon, CA) is highly effective in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia and report here the long-term outcome of this study. Pentostatin was administered intravenously in cycles of 4 mg/m2 weekly x 3 repeated every 8 weeks. Patients who achieved a complete remission (CR) received two further cycles for consolidation. Of 28 evaluable patients, 25 achieved a CR and three a partial remission. Twenty-three patients are alive at a median follow-up duration of 118 months (range, 55 to 133 months). Of the 25 patients who achieved a CR, 14 (56%) remain in CR at a median of 119 months (range, 109 to 133 months) from the time of CR. Nine additional patients relapsed at a median time of 49 months (range, 15 to 122 months). Only three of the relapsed patients have required treatment: two patients who received cladribine achieved CRs; the third received interferon-alpha and died from hairy cell leukemia. The three patients in partial remission continue to have normal blood counts at 58, 105, and 120 months. Five patients have developed a second malignancy: one mycosis fungoides and four solid tumors. Three patients died from the second malignancies. There were no treatment-related deaths due to toxicity or opportunistic infection. Pentostatin is a highly effective agent for hairy cell leukemia and produces prolonged remissions in the majority of patients.

• Authors: J B Johnston, E Eisenhauer, N Wainman, W E Corbett, S D Zaentz, P J Daeninck
• Journal: Seminars in oncology (Semin Oncol) Vol. 27 Issue 2 Suppl 5 Pg. 32-6 (Apr 2000) ISSN: 0093-7754 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10877049 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Pentostatin
• Cladribine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Canada
• Cause of Death
• Cladribine (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Injections, Intravenous
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Leukemia, Hairy Cell (drug therapy)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (pathology)
• Neoplasms, Second Primary (pathology)
• Pentostatin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Remission Induction
• Survival Rate
• Treatment Outcome