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Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab: an effective chemoimmunotherapy combination with high remission rates for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

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Abstract

Background

Combined Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide is now standard first-line therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and the addition of Rituximab improves outcome.

Methods

We adopted a modified Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab (FCR) protocol in treating 39 patients (median age 57 years) with progressive or advanced CLL. Depending on CR, treatment was given for four or six cycles.

Result

Twenty-six patients were treatment naïve and 13 were pre-treated. Twelve patients had progressive Binet stage A, 16 stage B and 11 stage C disease. The overall response rate (ORR) was 100%, with 75% achieving CR. Neutropenia was the major toxicity in 71/187 (38%) of the cycles. There were five deaths, two from infection and three from progressive disease. Twenty-six of 31 patients have maintained their post-treatment disease status for a median of 17 months (2–41).

Conclusion

We conclude that FCR is a feasible, well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with CLL.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from Bone Marrow for Leukaemia Trust and Health Research Board of Ireland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Haematology, UCH, Galway, Ireland

    A. Hayat

  2. Central Pathology Laboratories, Department of Haematology, St James Hospital, James Street, Dublin 8, Ireland

    S. McGuckin, E. Conneally, P. V. Brown, S. R. McCann, M. Lawler, F. Quinn, E. Delaney, P. O’Rourke, S. Liptrot, D. O’Brien & E. Vandenberghe

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  1. A. Hayat
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  2. S. McGuckin
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  3. E. Conneally
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  4. P. V. Brown
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  5. S. R. McCann
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  6. M. Lawler
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  7. F. Quinn
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  8. E. Delaney
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  9. P. O’Rourke
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  10. S. Liptrot
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  11. D. O’Brien
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  12. E. Vandenberghe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Vandenberghe.

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Hayat, A., McGuckin, S., Conneally, E. et al. Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab: an effective chemoimmunotherapy combination with high remission rates for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Ir J Med Sci 178, 441–446 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-009-0358-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-009-0358-9

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