Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that a regimen of lumilixmab, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (L-FCR) is effective for the treatment of patients with relapsed CLL. The details of this Phase I/II study were presented at the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago May 30-June 2.

Lumiliximab is an anti-CD23 antibody being evaluated in patients with relapsed CLL. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted both orphan drug status and fast track status to Biogen Idec’s lumiliximab for the treatment of CLL. Biogen Idec has initiated a clinical trial comparing lumiliximab in combination with FCR to FCR alone in patients with CLL that has either relapsed or failed to respond to initial therapy.

At ASCO 2008 researchers from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center treated 31 patients with relapsed CLL with lumiliximab and FCR.¹ The complete response rate was 52%, and the partial response rate was 13%. The median progression-free survival was 19 months. Median progression-free survival for responders was 23 months. These authors suggest that the safety profile for lumiliximab and FCR is similar to FCR alone.

Comments: A 52% CR rate in relapse patients with CLL is impressive and warrants the current ongoing randomized trial.

Related News:

Lumiliximab Granted Orphan Drug Status and Fast Track Status (02/09/2007)

Related Conference News:

Developments in the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Update from ASCO 2006 (08/23/2006)

ASCO 2006: Advances in the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) (06/19/2006)

Reference:

¹ Byrd JC, Castro JE, Flinn IW, et al. Lumiliximab in combination with FCR for the treatment of relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): results from a phase I/II multicenter study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008;25: abstract 7003.