LCH-S-98 LCH-S-98 (1999-2004): This salvage approach was designed as a non-randomized phase II study, aiming to evaluate the activity of cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine; 2-CdA) in patients with risk organ involvement (RO+), whose disease progressed after combination therapy with prednisolone, vinblastine and etoposide and in patients without risk organ involvement (RO-) with multiple disease reactivations (≥ 2 episodes).1 2-CdA was given as a 5-day course at a dose of 5 mg/m2/day, repeated every 3-4 weeks for 2-6 courses depending on response. Forty-six RO+ and 37 RO- patients were evaluable. 2-CdA as monotherapy was significantly more effective in RO- patients with a response in 62% compared to 22% in RO+ patients. Two-year predicted survival was 48% for RO+ and 97% for RO- patients. Thus, 2-CdA as a single drug was not sufficient to change the fate of the patients with most severe disease. REFERENCES: |