Rituximab and Fludarabine Produce Long-Term Remissions in Some Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients, Study Suggests

A multi-institutional study led by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center tracked the progress of 104 people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, treated with the targeted agent rituximab and the drug fludarabine. This study produced several interesting results, especially when contrasted with current methods and schools of thinking. Using this drug combination it is possible to forgo the use of cyclophosphamide, the toxic chemical used in chemotherapy. Despite not using this chemical, the outcomes are very good for low-risk disease patients. And it can do all this without increasing the risk of secondary leukemias. Long-term remission was very promising.

The study found that 13 percent of patients had at least seven year remissions and some did so when some of the disease remained after initial treatment.

The thing that impressed me the most about this study was the performance of the targeted-drug treatment when compared to the traditional approach using chemotherapy. The toxic side effects of the traditional chemotherapy can be very taxing on patients and have unwanted side effects. This becomes especially pointed when it comes to older patients, such as my grandfather, for whom the chemotherapy can be a health risk. The outcomes of initial studies suggest to me that using this or similar treatments it would be possible for them to not need to use chemotherapy and because of the long-term outcomes they probably wouldn't need to go in for more invasive procedures at a later time to remove the disease either.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110225094938.htm