Article

Rituxan approved for most common type of leukemia

Author(s):

Last night, the Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) for the treatment of CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The combination can be given to CLL patients who have not received previous treatment as well as those whose cancer has not responded to other drugs. The agency based its decision on two phase 3 studies. The first trial showed progression-free survival--the amount of time patients lived without the disease getting worse--was eight months longer (39.8 months versus 31.5 months) in patients who received Rituxan plus FC compared with patients who received FC alone. In the second study, patients on the Rituxan combo lived five months longer without disease progression than patients receiving chemotherapy alone (26.7 months versus 21.7 months).Already approved for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody that works by targeting the CD20 protein that is found at high levels on cancerous B cells. Side effects of the drug can include fever, chills, headache, and, rarely, infusion reactions (Rituxan is administered intravenously).About 16,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with CLL each year, making it the most common type of adult leukemia.Rituxan becomes the third drug approved for CLL in the past two years. The FDA gave the green light to Arzerra (ofatumumab) last October for patients whose cancer stopped responding to other forms of chemotherapy, and Treanda (bendamustine) received the FDA's OK in March 2008 for patients who had not received prior treatment.Watch for our feature on CLL in CURE's Summer issue, which drops in June. And for more, visit our leukemia page.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Related Videos
Image of woman with text.
Unlike most GI cancers, GIST starts in supportive stromal tissue, not surface cells, and is classified as a sarcoma, says Dr. Weijing Sun.
Six-time cancer survivor Staci Kirk urges patients to trust their bodies and speak up to ensure their needs are understood and addressed throughout cancer care.
Clinical trials should be designed to ease travel and financial burdens by using local care, telehealth and remote tools, Kimberly Demirhan explained.
Certain treatments may accelerate aging in survivors, but tailored care and healthy habits can help reduce long-term risks, researchers said.
Image of man with text.
Image of woman with text.
Image of man with text.
Related Content