Therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Results from the French cooperative trials. French Cooperative Group on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

This paper summarizes results from clinical trials in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with a special emphasis on our protocols, CLL 80 and CLL 85, both based on the (A, B, C) staging. The third interim analysis of the CLL 80 protocol (973 patients, 287 deaths) confirmed, in stage C patients, the effectiveness of the CHOP regimen when compared to the COP regimen; failed to show a benefit from the COP regimen when compared to chlorambucil in stage B patients; and pointed out a toxic effect on survival from a daily indefinite course of chlorambucil when compared to no treatment in stage A patients. The major question of the CLL 85 protocol was the potential benefit of the CHOP regimen in stage B patients. The first interim analysis estimated the percentage of stage B patients who reached clinical remission or stage A at 77% with the CHOP regimen versus 53% in the control group (intermittent chlorambucil-prednisone).