Efficacy of the anti-CD22 recombinant immunotoxin BL22 in chemotherapy-resistant hairy-cell leukemia

Background Hairy-cell leukemia that is resistant to treatment with purine analogues, including cladribine, has a poor prognosis. We tested the safety and efficacy of an immunotoxin directed against a surface antigen that is strongly expressed by leukemic hairy cells. Methods RFB4(dsFv)-PE38 (BL22), a recombinant immunotoxin containing an anti-CD22 variable domain (Fv) fused to truncated pseudomonas exotoxin, was administered in a dose-escalation trial by intravenous infusion every other day for a total of three doses. Results Of 16 patients who were resistant to cladribine, 11 had a complete remission and 2 had a partial remission with BL22. The three patients who did not have a response received low doses of BL22 or had preexisting toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Of the 11 patients in complete remission, 2 had minimal residual disease in the bone marrow or blood. During a median follow-up of 16 months ( range, 10 to 23), 3 of the 11 patients who had a complete response relapsed and were retreated; all of these patients had a second complete remission. In 2 of the 16 patients, a serious but completely reversible hemolytic uremic syndrome developed during the second cycle of treatment with BL22. Common toxic effects included transient hypoalbuminemia and elevated aminotransferase levels. Conclusions BL22 can induce complete remissions in patients with hairy-cell leukemia that is resistant to treatment with purine analogues. (N Engl J Med 2001; 345: 241-7.) Copyright (C) 2001 Massachusetts Medical Society.