Protocol Number: 06-C-0177
-Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is a low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. -LGL is associated with low numbers of white blood cells (leading to recurring infections), red blood cells (causing anemia) and platelets (causing abnormal bleeding). -Cyclosporine (CSA) is an immunosuppressive drug that improves low blood cell counts in about 50 percent of patients with LGL leukemia. Objectives: -To identify what factors determine why cyclosporine works in some patients and not in others. -To identify what causes low blood counts in LGL leukemia. Eligibility: Patients 18 years of age and older with LGL leukemia. Design: -Patients have a medical history, physical examination blood tests, bone marrow biopsy and x-ray studies, including chest x-rays and CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Patients with an easily accessible enlarged lymph node have a node biopsy (removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination). -Patients take cyclosporine twice a day by mouth. Blood samples are taken at least weekly to monitor drug levels. -Patients undergo apheresis (collection of white blood cells) at a number of different time points in the study (maximum 6 times) to look at the differences in the leukemia cells before and during treatment with cyclosporine. For apheresis, blood is withdrawn through a needle in an arm vein and directed through a catheter (plastic tube) into a machine that separates it into its components. The white cells are extracted and the rest of the blood is returned through the same needle or through a second needle in the other arm.
Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 01/30/2009
|
||