Campath-1H Treatment of T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia in Patients for Whom at Least One Prior Chemotherapy Regimen Has Failed

Abstract

Campath-1H is an active drug in T-PLL patients for whom first-line therapy has failed. It has a favorable risk/benefit ratio and should be prospectively investigated in chemotherapy-naive patients.

Low-dose alemtuzumab (Campath®) in myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation for CD52-positive malignancies: decreased incidence of acute graft-versus-host-disease with unique pharmacokinetics

“…6,7 In B-cell and T-cell prolymphocytic leukemias, response rates as high as 76% have been reported. [8][9][10] Other malignancies that express CD52 are potential targets for alemtuzumab therapy, including acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), hairy cell leukemia, and Waldenstro¨m's macroglobulinemia. 11 Within the setting of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for hematologic malignancies, alemtuzumab has been used extensively, both in vivo and ex vivo, to deplete T cells in the graft and in the recipient, a simple procedure that is effective in controlling graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), one of the major causes of post transplant morbidity and mortality.…”

Monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents in oncology and antibody gene therapy

“…A retrospective analysis of 76 T-prolymphocytic leukemia patients treated with alemtuzumab showed an ORR of 51%, with a 40% complete response [39]. However, the median duration of CR was shorter than 8.7 months, and the outcome was unsatisfactory if no other treatment followed.…”

Successful oral valganciclovir treatment of cytomegalovirus infection during Campath-1H therapy

“…Campath-1H is an effective treatment for patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), 1,2 in consolidation in patients with CLL in first remission 3 and T prolymphocytic leukemia, 4 but can cause profound lymphocytopenia and deficient cell-mediated immunity. Between 15 and 20% of patients develop cytomegalovirus infection during Campath-1H treatment 5,6 (Sah A et al, Blood, 2003; 102: 109a; abstract #372), and they are generally treated with daily intravenous infusions of ganciclovir or foscarnet.…”