B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Carlos A Lopez, M.D. [2]

Chemotherapy, biological therapy, and splenectomy or radiation therapy to the spleen are indicated in the treatment of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia responds better when combinations of chemotherapy drugs are used. Some combinations that may be used are:^[1]

• CVP – Cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone.

• CHOP – Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.

Other chemotherapy drugs (purine analogues) are often used to treat T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia are:

• Fludarabine
• Cladribine
• Pentostatin

Monoclonal antibodies are a type of biological therapy that has been effective in treating certain types of leukemias. These drugs may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy to treat prolymphocytic leukemia.

• Alemtuzumab seems to be particularly effective in treating T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. It may be used in people whose lymphoma is no longer responding to chemotherapy drugs like fludarabine.

Splenectomy and external beam radiation therapy to the spleen may be used in some people with prolymphocytic leukemia.

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