TREATMENT OF HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA

Treatment of hairy cell leukemia. M. A. Volkova, S. V. Lepkov. Cancer Research Center, Moscow, Russia. The authors review historical and mod ern literature data and original experience on the treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). The regimens, mechanisms of action and efficacy a re analyzed for interferon, pentostatin and 2-chlordeoxyadenosine. In 43 patients treated by the authors with interferon the efficacy of the induction course reached 94.5% in a complete remission rate 10.5%. Ho wever, further maintenance for 6 months increased the proportion of co mplete remissions to 65.7%. Median of the complete remission duration for 6-month maintenance was 15 months, for 8-12-month maintenance the median rose to 28 months (p<0.05). Median of the recurrence-free perio d for partial remission made up 10 months. In recurrences, repeat inte rferon courses proved effective in 85.7% of patients after complete re mission and in 60% after partial one. Six patients received pentostati n: 1 had hairy cell leukemia resistant to interferon primarily, 5 pati ents had recurrences resistant to it. Complete remissions were achieve d in all the patients after 4 pentostatin injections: The remissions l asted at least 2 years. With our experience, overall 5-year survival f or hairy cell leukemia patients reached 73%, most of the patients were able to resume their previous jobs.