An open-label, pilot study of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and alemtuzumab in relapsed/refractory patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Blood. 2011 Oct 13;118(15):4079-85. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-05-351833. Epub 2011 Jul 19.

Abstract

Although combination regimens have improved outcomes over monotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), patients eventually relapse. Combined fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody alemtuzumab (FCC) provided synergistic cytotoxicity with effective clearing of minimal residual disease. This phase 2 study determined FCC efficacy and safety in relapsed/refractory CD52(+) B-CLL after ≥ 1 line of treatment. From January 2005 through June 2008, up to 6 courses of oral fludarabine 40 mg/m² per day, oral cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m² per day, and subcutaneous alemtuzumab (Mab-Campath) 10 mg (increased to 20 mg after first 10-patient cohort) were administered days 1 to 3 every 28 days. The primary objective was overall response rate (ORR); secondary objectives included response duration, time to disease progression, and safety and tolerability. ORR was 67% in 43 patients; 30% achieved complete response. ORR significantly improved with 1 versus ≥ 2 prior therapies (P = .018), and without versus with previous monoclonal antibody treatment (P = .003). Median progression-free survival was 24.4 months, not reached in patients achieving complete response. Median overall survival was 33.6 months. Myelosuppression was the most common adverse event, with a low percentage of cytomegalovirus reactivations and manageable infections. However, close vigilance of opportunistic infections is warranted. FCC provides effective immunotherapy in relapsed/refractory CLL, including in patients with poor-risk prognostic factors.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / mortality
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Recurrence
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Vidarabine / administration & dosage
  • Vidarabine / adverse effects
  • Vidarabine / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Vidarabine
  • fludarabine