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Chemotherapy - Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)

Most newly diagnosed patients with HCL will receive chemotherapy with a purine analog.

Option 1: Chemotherapy with cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine; 2-CDA; Leustatin®)

• How is it given: Continuous infusion intravenously (IV), the drug is delivered into the veins
• What is the duration: 7 days
• What are the side effects: Dose-related neutopenia (granulocytopenia; too few mature granulocytes; bacteria-destroying white blood cells that contain small granules), myelotoxicity (bone marrow damage), neurotoxicity (nervous system damage), immunosuppression (prevention of the immune response), fever, and infection

Option 2: Chemotherapy with pentostatin (2-deoxycoformycin; "DCF"; Nipent®)

• How is it given: Bolus (concentrated dose) infusion intravenously (IV), the drug is delivered into the veins
• What is the duration: Once every 14 days until maximum response is obtained
• What are the side effects: Dose-related neutopenia (granulocytopenia; too few mature granulocytes; bacteria-destroying white blood cells that contain small granules), myelotoxicity (bone marrow damage), neurotoxicity (nervous system damage), immunosuppression (prevention of the immune response), fever, and infection.

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