Novel Treatments Demonstrate Improvements in Overall Survival and Response Rates in Difficult-To-Treat Forms of Leukemia an...(ificantly higher in the FCR arm (52 perc...),Health

At two years, the progression-free survival rate was 76.6 percent in the FCR arm as compared with 62.3 percent in the FC arm. While FCR was found to cause more neutropenia (33.6 percent versus 20.9 percent) and leukopenia (24 percent versus 12.1 percent), it did not increase the incidence of severe infections (18.8 percent versus 14.8 percent) as compared with FC. Taken together, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab chemoimmunotherapy is a safe first-line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia that improves response rates and progression-free survival.

American Society of Hematology 50thAnnual Meeting

The study authors and press program moderator will be available for interviews after the press conference or by telephone. Additional press briefings will take place throughout the meeting on combating blood clots, therapeutic strategies for platelet disorders, improvements in stem cell therapies, and advances in screening and treatment for sickle cell disease.

The American Society of Hematology (www.hematology.org) is the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. In September, ASH launched Blood:The Vital Connection (www.bloodthevitalconnection.org), a credible online resource addressing bleeding and clotting disorders, anemia, and cancer. It provides hematologist-approved information about these blood conditions including risk factors, preventative measures, and tr
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