Outcomes of second-line treatment after fludarabine cyclophosphamide and rituximab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia outside clinical trials

the Israeli CLL study group (ICLLSG)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    4 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Objective: To evaluate disease characteristics and long-term outcomes in patients requiring second-line treatment following fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR), for relapsed/refractory disease (R/R), or following discontinuation due to toxicities. Method: A retrospective analysis of 126 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with frontline FCR: 63 received second-line treatment (41 relapsed, nine refractory [SD/PD], 13 prior toxicity). Time to next treatment (TTNT) was calculated from beginning FCR to initiation of second-line therapy. Overall and event-free survival was calculated from initiation of salvage treatment (OS2/EFS2). Results: Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 67 and 37 months from second-line therapy. TTNT < 24 months was associated with shorter OS2 and EFS2 similar to those observed with primary refractory disease (OS2 19 and 23 months; EFS2 12 and 9 months for TTNT < 24 months and SD/PD, respectively). TTNT ≥ 24 months (71% chemotherapy-based second-line), had longer OS2 and EFS2 (48 and 20 months). Among the 13 patients receiving second-line therapy after discontinuing FCR due to toxicity EFS2 was 41 months (59 months from initiation of FCR). Conclusion: With limitations of sample size and treatment heterogeneity, patients progressing <24 months following FCR have poor outcomes, similar to refractory patients, while longer remissions are indicative of a chemoimmunotherapy sensitive disease. Patients who discontinue FCR for toxicities may achieve excellent outcomes with subsequent treatment.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)399-406
    Number of pages8
    JournalEuropean Journal of Haematology
    Volume101
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Sep 2018

    Keywords

    • CLL
    • FCR
    • relapse
    • salvage
    • therapy
    • toxicity

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Hematology

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