Authors' objectives:

The aim of this report is to review the available information on the use of alemtuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Authors' recommendations: Safety issues such as opportunistic infection cause concern. Alemtuzumab should be used with appropriate safeguards. While alemtuzumab is expensive, it is used when no alternative treatment is available (for patients with refractory B-CLL). Data on survival outcomes are needed to accurately estimate its cost-effectiveness. It is anticipated that in future trials, patients will be stratified based on the molecular and cytogenetic profiles of their leukemia cells, to clarify alemtuzumab s role in certain poor risk groups. Available data indicate that salvage therapy with alemtuzumab is associated with control of leukemia in approximately a third of patients, but it is also associated with harm. Without good quality data from RCTs, it is impossible to establish the role of alemtuzumab in patients with B-CLL.

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.ccohta.ca/publications/pdf/281_alemtuzumab_cetap_e.pdf

Year Published: 2005

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553, Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA)