The disease with hope: hairy cell leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL), comprising 2% of all leukemias, is a chronic disorder characterized by mononuclear cells with prominent cytoplasmic projections. For years, patients with HCL underwent splenectomies and then interferon alpha for treatment, which provided high response rates but low percent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical journal of oncology nursing Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 731 - 735
Main Author Becker, Susan E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Oncology Nursing Society 01.10.2007
Subjects
Antibodies - therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Care and treatment
Case studies
Cladribine - therapeutic use
Complications and side effects
Development and progression
Diagnosis
Enterotoxins - therapeutic use
Humans
Identification and classification
Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use
Leukemia, Hairy cell
Leukemia, Hairy Cell - complications
Leukemia, Hairy Cell - diagnosis
Leukemia, Hairy Cell - epidemiology
Leukemia, Hairy Cell - therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Remission Induction - methods
Splenectomy
Treatment Outcome
Virginia
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Summary:Hairy cell leukemia (HCL), comprising 2% of all leukemias, is a chronic disorder characterized by mononuclear cells with prominent cytoplasmic projections. For years, patients with HCL underwent splenectomies and then interferon alpha for treatment, which provided high response rates but low percentages of complete remission. More recent treatments with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine result in 85%-90% complete remission, minimal toxicity, and lower rates of relapse using a single course of therapy. A second course of therapy can be administered if HCL continues to be resistant or recurs. New research using anti-CD22 recombinant immunotoxin BL22 is proving successful. With these latest chemotherapy options, patients' prognoses are optimistic.
ISSN:1092-1095
1538-067X
DOI:10.1188/07.CJON.731-735