Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia (also known as hairy cell disease) is an uncommon kind of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The disease gets it name from the abnormally shaped lymphocytic white blood cells, which have projections from their surface that look like hairs under a microscope. The cancerous cells generally collect in the spleen, causing it to swell. Hairy cell leukemia may be difficult to diagnose early because its symptoms are vague and resemble those of other illnesses. The disease may be discovered during a medical evaluation because of an enlarged spleen or an unexpected decrease in normal blood cell counts. It occurs predominantly in middle-aged men.

Two chemotherapy agents, Pentostatin (deoxycoformycin or Nipent) and cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, 2-CdA or Leustatin), are very effective in killing hairy cells. A single, seven-day course of cladribine induces a complete remission in about 75 percent of patients and a significant partial remission in most of the remainder. Alfa interferon can also be used to treat hairy cell leukemia.