Protocol Number: 04-C-0014
Patients 18 years of age and older with hairy cell leukemia whose cancer cells have the CD22 protein may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest x-ray, and bone marrow biopsy. Participants will undergo the following tests and procedures: - BL22 treatment: BL22 is given by intravenous (through a vein) infusion over 30 minutes on days 1, 3, and 5 of each 4-week treatment cycle. The drug is infused through a central venous catheter (plastic tube placed in a large vein). The first infusion is given on an inpatient basis, with subsequent cycles given as outpatients. Acetaminophen, ranitidine, and hydroxyzine are given around the time of the BL22 infusion to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to the drug. Other treatments, such as transfusions and antibiotics, are given if required. Patients are evaluated 8 weeks after the first cycle. Those whose blood counts improve to a certain level are observed without further treatment. Others may receive up to 9 nine additional cycles of BL22 every 4 weeks unless the disease worsens, serious side effects develop, or the patient decides to withdraw from the study. - Blood tests: A small amount of blood is drawn before, during, and after each treatment cycle to measure the amount of BL22 in the blood, the effects of the drug on cancer cells in the blood, and to monitor for drug side effects. Blood tests are also done before and during each cycle to assess the immune system response to BL22. - Disease progress is evaluated before each cycle and at follow-up visits. These evaluations include a physical examination, blood tests, chest x-ray, and electrocardiogram (EKG). Bone marrow biopsy, computed tomography (CT) scan, and echocardiogram (heart ultrasound test) are done before starting the first treatment cycle and after every two cycles, or more often if they contribute to an understanding of how the leukemia is reacting to BL22.
Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 09/16/2008
|
||