Fewer infections, but maintained antitumor activity with lower-dose versus standard-dose cladribine in pretreated low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSETo study the efficacy and the safety of cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine [2-CDA]) administered at two different dosages.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn this two-cohort study, patients with low-grade refractory/relapsing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) received 2-CDA at a dose of 0.7 mg/kg per cycle as a continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion (group 1, n = 44) or at a reduced dose of 0.5 mg/kg per cycle as a subcutaneous (s.c.) bolus injection (group 2, n = 60). Three 2-CDA cycles at > or = 4-week intervals were planned, then treatment could be pursued until six cycles.RESULTSA total of 300 cycles were administered (group 1, 114 cycles; group 2, 186). Patient characteristics in both groups were comparable. The median dose-intensities were 0.17 mg/kg/wk and 0.13 mg/kg/wk for groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < or = .0001). The overall response rate for all 104 patients was 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 45% to 66%; 15% complete response [CR] and 39% partial response [PR]). Response was similar in both patien...