Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Conditions
Keywords
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, stage I chronic lymphocytic leukemia, stage II chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Brief summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Sometimes, the cancer may not need treatment until it progresses. In this case, observation may be sufficient. It is not yet known whether fludarabine is more effective than observation in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying fludarabine to see how well it works compared to observation only in treating patients with stage 0, stage I, or stage II B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVES: * Identify prognostic factors that predict a short survival in patients with stage 0-II B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with fludarabine or observation only. OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to risk (high risk vs low risk). Patients in the low-risk group undergo observation only. Patients in the high-risk group are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive fludarabine. * Arm II: Patients undergo observation only. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 880 patients will be accrued for this study.
Interventions
DRUGFludarabine
Fludarabine i.v. (25 mg/m2/d, d1-5) q28d; max 6 cycles
Sponsors
German CLL Study Group
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Confirmed diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia * Rai stage 0-II (Binet stage A) disease * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * High-risk disease, as defined by the following: * Serum thymidine kinase level \> 7.0 U/L * Elevated β2-microglobulin level * Presence of non-nodular bone marrow infiltration * Short lymphocyte doubling time * Low-risk disease * Meets none of the criteria (as listed above) for high-risk disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * More than 6 months Hematopoietic * No autoimmune hemolytic anemia * No thrombocytopenia Hepatic * Not specified Renal * Not specified Other * No severe organ dysfunction * No other prior or concurrent malignancy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy * No other concurrent chemotherapy
Countries
Austria, Germany
Outcome results
None listed