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The use of low-dose alemtuzumab in pretreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Leukemia volume 24, pages 890–891 (2010)Cite this article

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We read with interest the article by Cortelezzi et al.1 published in a recent issue of this journal. They report their experience with low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab (10 mg three times per week for 18 weeks) in 49 patients with pretreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). The rationale for the use of subcutaneous low-dose alemtuzumab was to reduce the profound lymphopenia and high risk of infections when using the conventional intravenous schedule (30 mg three times a week for 12 weeks), which are serious problems particularly in older chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and those already severely immunocompromised by advanced disease and earlier therapies. The authors show interesting data regarding the efficacy of low-dose alemtuzumab in terms of response rate, progression-free survival, time to retreatment, and a favorable toxicity profile in a group of poor prognosis patients.

We now report our clinical experience with low-dose alemtuzumab in 19 heavily pretreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Twelve of these patients, who have been previously reported, received intravenous low-dose alemtuzumab (10 mg three times a week) in ten weeks.2 Seven additional patients were subsequently treated with the same schedule, except that alemtuzumab was administered subcutaneously to reduce infusion related toxicity.3, 4

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References

  1. Cortelezzi A, Pasquini MC, Gardellini A, Gianelli U, Bossi A, Reda G et al. Low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab in refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): results of a prospective, single-arm multicentre study. Leukemia 2009; 23: 2027–2033.

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  2. Laurenti L, Piccioni P, Tarnani M, Efremov DG, Fiorini A, Garzia M et al. Low-dose intravenous alemtuzumab therapy in pretreated patients affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A single center experience. Haematologica 2005; 90: 1143–1145.

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  5. Laurenti L, Piccioni P, Cattani P, Cingolani A, Efremov D, Chiusolo P et al. Cytomegalovirus reactivation during alemtuzumab therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: incidence and treatment with oral ganciclovir. Haematologica 2004; 89: 1248–1252.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Ematologia, Policlinico A Gemelli, Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy

    M Tarnani, S Marietti, Sica S, G Leone & L Laurenti

  2. Divisione di Ematologia Ospedale San Giovanni Rotondo, Roma, Italy

    G D'Arena

  3. ICGEB Outstation CNR Monterotondo-Roma, Roma, Italy

    D G Efremov

Authors
  1. M Tarnani
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  2. G D'Arena
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  3. D G Efremov
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  4. S Marietti
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  5. Sica S
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  6. G Leone
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  7. L Laurenti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L Laurenti.

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Tarnani, M., D'Arena, G., Efremov, D. et al. The use of low-dose alemtuzumab in pretreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 24, 890–891 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2009.297

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2009.297

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