Re: OFATUMUMAB (ARZERRA)

[Guest guest]

That is good news! Thanks for telling us.On Oct 26, 2009, at 9:57 PM, rrfman wrote:

Ofatumumab (Arzerra), formerly known as Humax-CD20, was approved today by the FDA as treatment for CLL that is refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab. This will be a welcomed addition to the therapies we have to offer to our patients.

Rick Furman, MD

[Guest guest]

- I have recently been made aware that not all 17p patients react the

same way. Normally, many cannot tolerate certain drugs. But I am finding

out that 17p deletion comes in several flavors. However, her previous

failures might indicate that ofatumumab will be of limited use.

In a message dated 2/9/2011 2:49:01 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

psajobs@... writes:

Hello,

It has been a while since I have posted. My mother is 85 years old. Stage

IV CLL . She is 17p deleted, ZAP 70 positive.

She has been hospitalized more than not over the last 5 months, with

recurrent fluid in the lungs, suspected as a result of her Anemia, and

presently

is at the end of a C. Diff Infection.

She has had numerous platelet and RBC transfussions during this time

frame. Her WBCs are down from approx 130,000 to 93K this week. Her hemoglobin

is

8.8, hematocrit at 27.4. Her platelets are 18, and Neutrophils , 1. These

numbers fluctuate both positively and negatively on a daily basis.

She had initially been treated with FR, ( 6 cycles) had a 50% reduction in

nodes,and substantial decrease in bone marrow infiltration, but a short

response duration of less than a year, hence she was considered refractory.

She was to start Revlimid in the second 6 months but developed breast cancer

so could not continue at that time.

She eventually tried a few cycles of Bendamustine and was refractory, and

here is when her Cytopenias began. She had once Cycle after Bendamusitne

with Revlimid , responded nut was taken off for reasons not quite clear. She

had bulky noded approx. 4.5 cm, now way down, but still a few noded quite

large approx. 8 cm. Her spleen is enlarged.

It is now proposed she start treatment with Arzerra . She is at great risk

of infection as a result of the Neutropenia and respiratory concerns. I

have read mixed results around 17p and Arzerra .

We are at the point where we don't know if we should even attempt this

last treatment. I am hoping Dr. Furman will weigh in on this, as he was a

great help to us with her initial diagnosis in early 2008.

Thank you in advance,

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