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Pentostatin
Source: Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 21, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary.
Context: Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia / Treatment Options for Hairy Cell Leukemia
Pentostatin given IV every other week for 3 to 6 months produced a 50% to 76% complete response rate and an 80% to 87% overall response rate.[26] Complete remissions were of substantial duration. Purine analogues should be avoided in cases of active infection or moderate to severe hepatic or renal impairment.
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Evidence (pentostatin):
Two trials reported results on the 9-year median follow-up of patients treated with pentostatin.[27,28]
Two trials reported results on the 9-year median follow-up of patients treated with pentostatin.[27,28]
The relapse-free survival rates ranged from 56% to 67%.
Two trials reported results on the 9-year median follow-up of patients treated with pentostatin.[27,28]
Side effects included fever, immunosuppression, cytopenias, and renal dysfunction.
A randomized trial compared pentostatin to recombinant interferon alfa-2a.[26]
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A randomized trial compared pentostatin to recombinant interferon alfa-2a.[26]
Pentostatin demonstrated higher response rates and more durable responses.
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice