Hairy cell leukemia. A therapeutical update.

This is a review of current treatment for hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Data for this analysis were obtained from the Italian HCL Registry, as well as from other published series. We have given space to the impact of interferon and pentostatin on the management of this disease. Other issues are also discussed, such as the relevance of achieving a complete remission with respect to overall and relapse-free survival. We include a final section on recommendations which may prove useful in designing an appropriate therapeutic strategy.