In vivo 'purging' of residual disease in CLL with Campath-1H.

We assessed the role of human CD52 antibody (Campath-1H) in six patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) treated to maximal response with purine analogues (fludarabine/deoxycoformycin) in whom persistent leukaemic infiltration of blood and bone marrow had precluded autologous stem cell tran...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dyer, M, Kelsey, S, Mackay, H, Emmett, E, Thornton, P, Hale, G, Waldmann, H, Newland, A, Catovsky, D
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 1997
Description
Summary:We assessed the role of human CD52 antibody (Campath-1H) in six patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) treated to maximal response with purine analogues (fludarabine/deoxycoformycin) in whom persistent leukaemic infiltration of blood and bone marrow had precluded autologous stem cell transplantation. Five patients achieved haematological and histological complete remission following Campath-1H and one had minimal focal residual CLL in a trephine biopsy. Autologous transplantation was performed in two patients without complications and with rapid haemopoietic engraftment. Treatment with Campath-1H may be of value in eradicating residual disease in CLL and may facilitate high-dose therapy in young patients.