Journal of Rare Disorders: Diagnosis & Therapy

Keywords

Cladribine; Langerhans cell histiocytosis; Summary

Introduction

LCH is a rare disease involving clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells, which are abnormal cells derived from the bone marrow, along with eosinophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells. The incidence is 2 to 10 cases per one million children younger than 15 years, but it also occurs in adults [1]. Clinical manifestations range from isolated skin or bone lesions to multisystem disease. In LCH specific organs are considered: low risk (skin, bone, lymph nodes, pituitary gland), intermediate risk (lung, central nervous system) or high risk (liver, spleen, bone marrow) [2-4]. Treatment decisions are based on whether or not low, intermediate or high risk organs are involved and LCH presents as single site or multisystem disease [2-4]. In the guidelines for children up to eighteen years with LCH, cladribine monotherapy is recommended in first line treatment for LCH of the lung and LCH brain lesions [3]. Cladribine monotherapy is furthermore recommended as second line treatment in LCH with low risk organ involvement and in combination with cytarabine when high risk organs are involved [3]. In the management recommendations for adult patients with LCH cladribine monotherapy is recommended in front line treatment of systemic therapy of single-system LCH with special site lesions, multifocal lesions and for multi-system LCH with or without involvement of high risk organs [4]. Cladribine is also recommended as treatment option when maintenance therapy is required, in refractory disease with or without cytarabine and in single or multisystem reactivation of LCH and furthermore in central nervous system involvement, regardless whether there are tumorous lesions or neurodegenerative disease [4]. Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) is a purine analog that was developed in the 1970s. It was first tested in humans in the early 1980s and became an established product for the treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Cladribine is a chemotherapeutic compound that can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously. It is a prodrug that is activated after uptake in cells [5]. Its functions as an antimetabolite that induces DNA strand breaks and is toxic in hematopoietic cells and leukemic and lymphatic malignancies, but has little or no effect in non-hematopoeitic tissues and solid tumors [5]. It is polyvalent and is toxic for dividing and quiescent cells [5]. Cladribine induces myelosuppression and immunosuppression. A summary of the efficacy of cladribine in LCH is described in this paper.

Methods

Literature review in pubmed was performed using the search terms cladribine and LCH. Publications in which patients were treated with cladribine were identified and are included in this summary. Several publications that reported more patients reported case reports. There were also several case reports. As the disease manifests itselves heterogeneous and follow-up of response was variable, it was decided to develop a summary rather than a review, such that the reader can read through the various reports and get detailed information. This summary is composed of tables with articles; the text sections provides descriptions of the various articles listed in the tables. This is the first summary, cq review reported in the literature.

Studies and Case Reports on Cladribine for LCH

Table 1: Studies and case reports of children with LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Donadieu et al. [6] reported twenty seven children in whom LCH was diagnosed at the age between 0.08 and 3.34 years. At the time of treatment with cladribine and cytarabine patients had multiorgan involvement. Patients were refractory to vinblastine and steroids. Cladribine was administered at a dose of 9 mg/ m2 as two-hour infusion for five days. For children less than ten kilogram the dose was 0.3 mg/kg/d. Cytarabine was administered concurrently at a dose of 500 mg/m2 twice daily over two hours for five days. Up to five courses were administered until response occurred, whereafter seventeen patients received maintenance treatment consisting of two courses cladribine at 5 mg/m2/d for three days with vinblastine, prednisone, 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate. The latter two drugs were continued orally for twelve more months. The overall response rate was 92%. Twenty three patients (85%) received the non-active disease status. Two patients died and in two patients the disease status was never considered controlled. Relapse occurred in six patients at a median of 0.9 years. Two patients relapsed in the skin for which vinblastine and 6-mercaptopurine was administered and four patients in other organs. One of these four patients received cladribine and died; the other three patients received cladribine and cytarabine and obtained a response after which two patients were transplanted. At five years follow-up overall survival was 85%.

Mottl et al. [7] reported thirteen children with multisystem LCH. Median pretreatment duration was 15.7 months. Cladribine was used as salvage therapy. The first four patients received cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d continuously i.v. for seven days and nine patients 5 mg/m2/d continuously i.v. for five days every three weeks during maximal six courses. Nine patients obtained complete remission after cladribine treatment alone and four patients received additional radiotherapy, maintenance with vinblastine and radiotherapy or maintenance with vinblastine, mercaptopurine and prednisone. At median follow-up of 5 years and 7 months all patients were alive and in complete remission.

Stine et al. [8] reported ten children with LCH with or without high risk organ involvement. Nine of them had been pretreated with one to four therapies. Treatment with cladribine was instated at a dose of 5 mg/m2/d for 3 days. If treatment was well tolerated the dose was increased to 6.5 mg/m2/d for 3 days for a maximum of six cycles in total. Treatment in nine patients was given on an outpatient basis. One patient withdrew from the study after three cycles and received six cycles vincristine and cytarabine and was free of disease at 16 months follow-up. One patient had progressive bone lesions and received thalidomide for one year and was disease free at 32 months follow-up. Nine patients received a minimum of four courses and were included in the evaluation. Eight patients obtained a complete response (88.9%) and one a mixed response. The tenth patient is free of disease after thalidomide treatment. At 5 years follow-up seven patients (70%) remained disease free and three patients relapsed or had reactivation of persistent distant disease.

Biswas et al. [9] reported seven children with relapsed or refractory LCH, with multifocal bone lesions [3], multisystem low risk [2] and multisystem high risk [2] disease; skin, bone, lung, liver and lymphnodes were involved organs. Three patients had received one prior chemotherapy regimen and four were heavily pretreated. Patients received cladribine 0.15-0.3 mg/kg/d over two hours for 5 days for median 6 (range 2-9) courses. Six patients were evaluable. Two (33%) obtained partial remission and two (33%) stable disease with clinical improvement. At median 19 months follow-up five of six evaluable patients were alive. Toxicity was mainly hematological but one patient was admitted with diarrhea and sepsis and died.

Rodriguez et al. [10] reported six children with relapsed multifocal or multisystem LCH. Patients received cladribine 5-7 mg/m2/d by two hour intravenous infusion for five days every 3 to 4 weeks for maximal six courses. All patients received a complete response. At a median follow-up of 15 months five patients (83.3%) remained in remission. One patient with multisystem disease and relapse obtained a second response with cladribine and was on the treatment at the time of the report.

Stine et al. [11] reported three children with LCH with multiple organ involvement. One patient (2.9 y) received her first course of cladribine at a dose of 8 mg/m2/d by continuous infusion for five days. Subsequent courses were reduced to 5 mg/m2/d by continuous infusion for 3 days every 3 to 4 weeks for three courses. The second patient received cladribine 6.5 mg/m2/d continuous i.v. for 3 days for six courses at 4 weeks interval. The third patient received cladribine at not reported dose for five courses at 4 weeks interval. All three patients obtained complete remission and were in remission at respectively 18, 12 and 14 months follow-up.

Baumann et al. [12] reported a twenty year old patient with multisystem LCH who had been treated with vinca-alkaloid therapy and sorafenib; the latter induced a partial remission. Upon relapse the patient was treated with cladribine 10 mg/d subcutaneously for five days every 3 weeks for four cycles. After four months the patient received two additional cycles because of visual field impairment and obtained complete remission, which lasted for 18+ months. The plan was to retreat with cladribine if relapse would occur, as the patient had a long disease free period.

Ottaviano et al. [13] reported a three year old child with diabetes insipidus, who had presented with cutaneous eruptions at 2 months of age. At 14 months of age he was diagnosed with LCH. He was treated with vinblastine and prednisone, 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine with prednisone for skin relapses and topical tacrolimus. When he developed diabetes insipidus cladribine 0.3 mg/kg/d for 3 days was initiated. Five cycles were administered. At 18 months follow-up the patient was free of diabetes insipidus and other manifestations of LCH.

Suzuki et al. [14] reported a one year old boy who presented with an occipital tumor diagnosed as LCH. He was treated with cytarabine, vincristine and prednisolone which induced a complete response and maintenance with vincristine, cytarabine, prednisolone, methotrexate, vinblastine and 6-mercaptopurine. The tumor relapsed in the left orbital cavity and he subsequently received vincristine, adriamycine, cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine. A relapse in both locations occurred for which he was treated with cladribine 5 mg/m2/d for 5 days every three weeks. Six months later he developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which spontaneously regressed. At more than one year follow-up he was free of MDS and LCH.

Savardekar et al. [15] reported a seven year old boy who presented with facial paresis. Physical examination revealed abducent, facial and vestibulocochlear nerve involvement. The bilateral pyramidal tracts were involved and induced hypotonia and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes in all four limbs. The patient furthermore had gait ataxia. The diagnosis of LHC was made. Cladribine was started at a dose of 5 mg/m2/d over two hours intravenously for 5 days during six courses. A partial remission was obtained. At one year follow-up the partial remission continued, though with neurological sequela.

Table 2: Studies and case reports of children with LCH who were treated with cladribine and cytarabine.

Rigaud et al. [16] reported 1478 patients with LHC, aged less than 18 years, from the French registry, which was established in 1983. Registry assessment revealed that patients had less severe disease by time. In 1998 a change in treatment practice occurred: 483 Patients were diagnosed before and 995 patients after 1998. Vinblastine and steroids were given and salvage therapy was not standardized before 1998; in 1998 treatment practice changed: therapy duration increased from 6 to 12 months, repeated induction therapy was administered in cases showing poor response to the first induction with vinblastine and steroids, and refractory disease in patient with high risk organ involvement was treated with cladribine and cytarabine. Also maintenance treatment was prolonged from 6 to 12 months. Two induction treatments with vinblastine and steroids were given to 9.2% of patients before 1998 and to 22% of patients after 1998. In total 42 patients (5%) were treated with cladribine and cytararabine combination therapy. At five years the relapse rate was 47% in patients treated before 1998 and 33% in patients treated after 1998. At 5 years the relapse rate reached a plateau, although late relapses were occasionally observed. The 5 years and 10 years overall survival rates were respectively 92.3% and 91.9% before 1998 and 98.7% and 98.7% after 1998. Patients with involvement of risk organs had a 10 year survival of 49.8% before 1998 and of 91.7% after 1998. Following the introduction of cladribine and cytarabine treatment for refractory patients with involvement of risk organs, survival increased from 27% to 83%. Single system or multisystem HCL patients without involvement of risk organs showed survival rates of 100% over time.

Hu et al. [17] reported thirteen children with refractory multisystem LCH. Two patients with liver cirrhose stopped treatment after one cycle of therapy and one patient died of sepsis. The treatment was recommended as salvage therapy after failure of first line therapy, and as first line therapy for multisystem LCH with risk organ involvement.

Bernard et al. [18] reported ten childeren of young age with refractory LCH. At diagnosis all patients had skin, liver and spleen involvement and hematopoietic dysfunction. Seven patients had hemophagocytic syndrome, associated in six with viral infections, three had bone lesions and two presented with gut involvement. Patients received cytarabine 1000 mg/m2/d by two-hour infusions and cladribine 9 mg/m2/d as continuous intravenous infusion for five days. Cladribine was administered at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/d if weight was below 10 kg. Two to four courses were administered at 4 weeks interval and additional therapy was given on an individual basis and consisted of cladribine monotherapy, retinoid acid, or cladribine with vinblastine and steroids. Seven patients were evaluable for response, six obtained an early partial response and one responded later. Two patients died from sepsis and one after an additional allogeneic transplant. At three years follow-up overall survival was 70%, no patient had active disease and all had almost normal blood parameters.

Rosso et al. [19] reported nine children with median age of 0.75 years with multisystem high risk LCH. All patients had hepatosplenomegaly, hematological involvement and transfusion requirements. When they progressed after treatment consisting of vinblastine and prednisone with or without methotrexate, they received five or six courses of cladribine 5 mg/m2/d for 5 days and cytarabine 100 mg/m2/d for 4 days. Six patients obtained complete response and one patient improvement of active disease; five patient received continuation therapy and three who showed reactivation received other agents. At median follow-up of 6.5 years seven patients were disease free. Two patients died due to progressive disease. The probability of survival at three years was 0.73.

Apollonsky et al. [20] reported five young children with multisystem LCH. Two patients had high risk disease with lung, liver and spleen involvement. All patient had received mean 43 weeks of standard chemotherapy with vinblastine and steroids. They soon relapsed or progressed. Two patients received radiation and two cladribine monotherapy. In view of subsequent relapse all patients received cladribine 8.9 mg/m2/d (0.3 mg/kg/d for children less than 10 kg) continuously i.v. for 5 days and cytarabine 1 g/m2/d over two hours for 5 days during median four cycles. All patients obtained complete or partial remission. During 2.5 to 6 years follow-up all patients remained free of disease.

Choi et al. [21] reported a child of 8 months with LCH with enterocolitis, massive splenomegaly, rash, pancytopenia, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. The patient received two cycles of cladribine which led to transient improvement of diarrhea and rash. During the subsequent two cycles vinblastine and corticostoids were added after which gastrointestinal improvement was observed. The patient then received three chemotherapy cycles. He was subsequently readmitted with fever and neutropenia and recurrence of symptoms. Administration of two cycles of cladribine with high dose cytarabine resulted in complete resolution of all signs and symptoms of disease activity. The patient was free of disease 35 months from initial diagnosis and 27 months after the last chemotherapy.

Yao et al. [22] reported a six year old patient who had been diagnosed with LCH at three months of age. He had skin, skeleton, lung and liver involvement and relapsed three times on treatment before he was treated with cladribine. The dose was 10 mg/m2/d for 4 days. Five courses were administered, and during the third to fifth course cytarabine was added. The patient obtained complete remission and was disease free at 8 months follow-up.

Table 3: Studies and case reports of adults with LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Cantu et al. [23] reported fifty eight adults with a mean age of 32 years, who were treated with three chemotherapy regimen for bone lesions either solitary or as component of multisystem disease. Twenty two patient received cladribine 5 mg/m2/d intravenously for 5 days during six courses. Nine patients (41%) responded to treatment in first year. Compared to vinblastine and prednisone (ORR 16%) and low dose cytarabine (ORR 79%), the response to cladribine was 41% .

Saven et al. [24] reported thirteen adults with LCH with involvement of skin, bone, lung, soft tissue and/or lymph nodes. Twelve of them had been pretreated with steroids, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The median disease duration prior to treatment with cladribine was ninety nine months. The first two patients received cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d continuously i.v. for 7 days and eleven patients received cladribine 0.14 mg/kg/d by 2-hour infusion for 5 days. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks for a maximum of six courses. Twelve patients were evaluable for response; one patient was not seen again after the first course. After a median of three courses seven patients (58%) obtained a complete response and two patients (17%) a partial response for and overall response rate of 75%. Three patients had stable disease. Median follow-up for all patients was 33 months, for patients in complete remission 33+ months and for patients in partial remission 8+ and 36+ months. At a median follow-up of 42 months twelve patients (92.3%) were alive.

Adam et al. [25] also reported ten adults who received treatment with cladribine. Eight had multiorgan involvement and two had multifocal skeletal lesions with aggressive course. Patients were either treatment naive or pretreated. Cladribine was administered at 5 mg/m2/d subcutaneously for 5 days every 4 weeks. In two patients there was insufficient result after three cycles and cladribine was combined with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone. Maximal six cycles were administered. After a median of five cycles nine patients (90%) obtained complete remission and were disease free at a median of 26 months. The patient who progressed after 60 days received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide and prednisone (CHOEP) and high dose carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM) with autologous transplantation.

Adam et al. [26] retrospectively studied seven treatment naive adult males, six with multisystem and one with multifocal bone LCH, who were treated with cladribine, administered as 2-hour infusion or as subcutaneous injection, 5 mg/m2/day for 5 days at 4 week intervals for four courses. Two patients with aggressive disease underwent stem cell mobilization with cyclophosphamide, etoposide and G-CSF for potential autologous transplantation prior to start of cladribine. One of these patients responded to cladribine and did not require further therapy, the other was refractory and required autologous and allogeneic transplantation. In two patients with insufficient response after two to three cycles, cladribine treatment was enhanced with cyclophosphamide and steroids. Three patients received concomitant radiotherapy and one patient PUVA. Durable complete remissions were obtained in six patients (86%) and the patients were disease free at median follow- up of 37 months. One patient relapsed 2 months after cladribine treatment.

Pardanani et al. [27] described five adult patients, who had disseminated LCH, one with central nervous system involvement. One patient was treatment naïve and the other four had been pretreated. Cladribine was administered at a dose 0.09-0.1 mg/ kg/d intravenously for 5 to 7 days during median four courses.

The patient with nervous system involvement obtained complete remission of symptoms and disease after five courses. Patients with skin lesions and lymphadenopathy, and skin, mucosal and lung involvement respectively obtained also complete remission. Patients with high risk organ involvement and skin, lymphadenopathy and pleural involvement respectively obtained sustained partial remissions. At median 33 months follow-up one patient had died from a stroke unrelated to LCH.

Schini et al. [28] described five adult patients with relapsed or refractory LCH, who received cladribine at a dose of 0.14 mg/ kg/d as 2-hour infusions for 5 days every 4 weeks. One patient with lung involvement and repetitive pneumothorax was free of pneumothorax at 20 months follow-up. One patient with multisystem involvement obtained substantial improvement of disease. One patient with multiple bone lesions obtained impressive improvement, still present at 33 months followup. One patient with bone, lung and cerebellar involvement obtained significant improvement with disappearance of the cerebellar lesion. One patient with multiple bone lesions achieved stabilization of the disease, still sustained at 5 years follow-up.

Saven et al. [29] reported three adult patients, two with relapsed cutaneous disease and one with skin lesions, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. The patients received cladribine 0.7 mg/kg per course given intravenously over 5 to 7 days. Patients with cutaneous lesions had been pretreated with vinblastine without and with other chemotherapy and received two and five courses respectively, and the patient with multisystem disease, who was treatment naïve, with two courses. All three patients obtained complete remissions and were disease free at respectively 5 months, 23 months and 15 months follow-up.

Vanicek et al. [30] reported two adults who had diabetes insipidus due to pituary stalk infiltration by LCH. Cladribine 5 mg/ m2/d subcutaneously for 5 days was administered for four and six cycles respectively; in the latter case during the last two cycles 20 mg dexamethasone was added. Both patients obtained complete remission and were disease free at 33 and 8 months follow-up. However both continued to require vasopressine and the first patients also testosterone.

Lajolo et al. [31] reported one adult with palatal and vulvar lesions, diagnosed as LCH. The patient was treated with etoposide and radiotherapy and obtained partial remission with a duration of five months and relapsed with a lesion in the parotis. Cladribine 0.14 mg/kg/d for 5 days was administered. After four cycles, the last two at reduced dose, complete remission was achieved. At the time of reporting, the patient remained in complete remission.

Dimopoulos et al. [32] reported a patient aged 34 years with LCH and multiple bone and intestinal lesions who was treated with four courses of cladribine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/d for seven days by continuous intravenous infusion at 4 weeks interval. The patient obtained a complete response and was disease free at the 12 months follow-up evaluation.

Dallafior et al. [33] reported an adult patient with cutaneous LCH, who had been treated with topical medications. Upon relapse the patient was treated with one cycle cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d intravenously for 7 days, which could not be continued due to severe neutropenia and anemia; a short complete response was achieved but the patient relapsed after one month. She was then treated with 200 mg thalidomide and pentoxifylline and obtained a remission; upon relapse after 3 months, she continued on thalidomide and remained in remission at 6 months follow-up with 100 mg thalidomide as maintenance therapy.

Robak et al. [34] reported and adult patient who had systemic lupus erythomatodes, and was diagnosed with LCH of the liver, spleen and a retroperitoneal lesion between the stomach and spleen. After failure of response to vincristine and prednisone cladribine 0.12 mg/kg/d as 2-hour infusion for 3 days and cyclophosphamide 650 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 was initiated. Five courses were administered with complete resolution of the lesions after the third course. At 6 months follow-up the patient was still in complete remission.

Buchler et al. [35] report an adult of twenty five years who had been diagnosed with diabetes insipidus based on LCH at five years of age. At the age of twenty five ataxia, dysarthria and slow speech developed. PET-FDG showed asymmetry of the brain stem. Cladribine 5 mg/m2 intravenously for five days was administered. Six cycles were given. After treatment the brain stem asymmetry disappeared, progression of neurological symptoms was arrested, but there was no regression of posterior fossa/cerebellar symptomatology.

Black et al. [36] reported an adult patient with pruritic rash, erythematous papules and ulcerated plagues. Cutaneous LCH was diagnosed. Cladribine intravenously for 7 days was administered, upon which the patient obtained complete response. At the time of reporting at least 2 months later, the patient was still in complete remission.

Gabalec et al. [37] reported an adult patient with panhypopituarism, suprasellar expansion, skeletal and retrobulbar infiltration, cervical, retroperitoneal and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, diagnosed as LCH. Five cycles of cladribine 0.14 mg/kg/d for five days were administered. Complete remission of the lymphadenopathy and tumor infiltration was obtained but a lesion in the jejunum subsequently developed that induced bowel dilatation. After end-to-end anastomosis allogeneic stem cell transplantation was performed. At 130 days follow-up the patient was in good condition without any signs and symptoms of LCH.

Table 4: Studies and case reports which included children and adults with LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Adam et al. [38] reported a survey conducted among patients with LHC who received treatment with cladribine. Of 60 adults 51 (85%) achieved a complete or partial response and of 182 children 110 (60.4%) obtained a complete or partial remission. The higher response in adults was among others attributed to the fact that LCH is less aggressive in adults than in children, but also the source of information was considered a factor. It was noted that cladribine is also effective in LCH patients with cranial involvement. Other authors reported good cranial response as well [14,15,27,28,30].

Dhall et al. [39] reported twelve patients, eight children from almost 3 to 13 years and four adults with LCH involving the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, parenchymal and dural lesions and choroid plexus based mass lesions. Ten of twelve patients with CNS involvement had multisystem disease. Nine patients had neurologic symptoms. Cladribine 5 to 13 mg/m2/d intravenously for 3 to 5 days was administered every 2 to 8 weeks for a period of 3 to 12 months. Complete radiologic response was obtained in eight (67%) patients and partial radiologic response in four (33%) patients. Response was achieved mean 9.4 months after initiation of cladribine. Two patients with partial response remained without progression for 10 years, whereas two patients progressed at 2 and 3 years respectively. One patient died from a status epilepticus, without evidence of LCH at autopsy. Permanent sequela of central nervous system LCH, such as panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus and neurocognitive dysfunction were not reversible by cladribine therapy.

Grau et al. [40] reported nine patients, aged 6 to 63 years, who were diagnosed with multisystem LCH with severe organ dysfunction in four patients. Cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d for 5 days at 4 weeks interval was administered to seven treatment naïve and two patients in third line. Complete remission occurred in two (22%) patients and partial remission in four (44%) patients. The main toxicity was hematologic. At median 8 (range 2-17) months follow-up, two patients remained in complete and four patients in partial remission, while one had active disease. Two patients died due to progressive disease and yeast sepsis respectively. Probabilities of disease free and overall survival were 58% and 71% respectively.

Table 5: Studies and case reports of patients with pulmonary LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Grobost et al. [41] reported five adult patients with pulmonary LCH. Two patients had received prednisolone and the other three patients were treatment naïve. Cladribine was administered at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/d subcutaneously for 5 days for three or four courses. Dyspnea improved after treatment in four patients and forced expiration volume in 1 second (FEV1) increased in all patients. Forced vital capacity recuperated with therapy by a mean of 414 ml and FEV1 by a mean of 387 ml. Chest high resolution CT scans improved with cladribine treatment in four cases. Patients were followed for a median of 22 months after cladribine treatment. One patient relapsed after 6 months and was retreated with cladribine. Three other patients had a remission, one at evaluation four years after cladribine treatment, and one patient’s function tests improved and the disease had stabilized two years after cladribine treatment.

Lorillon et al. [42] reported three adults with progressive cystic pulmonary LCH. The patients had been pretreated with vinblastine and/or steroids but progressed. The patients received four or five cycles of cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d subcutaneously for 5 days. One patient of 21 years had diabetes insipidus and a biopsy proven osteolytic lesion of the skull and a decreased lung function. The dyspnea improved after treatment with cladribine and there was partial resolution of nodular and cystic lung lesions. One patient of 32 years with only lung lesions obtained resolution of abnormalities and improvement of DLCO value by 46% compared to pretreatment. One patient of 23 years had multisystem LCH since childhood; the bullocystic lung lesions almost completely resolved after treatment with cladribine and the lung function improved.

Goh et al. [43] reported a 19 year old patient with pulmonary LCH who received four cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, vincristrine and prednisolone (CHOP) with etoposide which induced no improvement of symptoms. Subsequently he received five cycles of cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d by continuous infusion for 7 days per course over a period of ten months. The patient experienced rapid improvement of performance and more gradual improvement of the lung function. Five years after the last treatment he remained well free of symptoms.

Aerni et al. [44] reported a sixty six year old patient, who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy, discrete pulmonary nodes and cervical and thoracic vertebral body lesions, diagnosed as LCH. Cladribine 5 mg/m2/d intravenously for 5 days every 4 weeks for four cycles was administered. A complete response occurred and at 18 months follow-up there was no evidence of LCH in lungs, spine and lymph nodes.

Lazor et al. [45] reported one adult presenting with dry cough, diagnosed with LCH. The lungs contained nodular cystic lesions. During prednisone treatment the lung function deteriorated. It was decided to instate cladribine. She received four cycles of 3, 4, 5 and 5 mg/m2 every 4 weeks. The CT and dyspnea improved, while she remained smoking.

Epaud et al. [46] reported a child with cystic pulmonary LCH. LCH had been diagnosed by liver and skin biopsy; the organ involvement resolved upon treatment with vinblastine, steroids and 6- mercaptopurine for 15 months. Two months after the end of treatment reactivation of disease was diagnosed with mediastinal node and lung involvement. Lung involvement was limited to a few cysts and vinblastine and steroid treatment were resumed. The lung cysts resolved, but 2 months later the patient presented with diabetes insipidus and thyroid insufficiency. Hormone replacement therapy was given. Eighteen months later, reactivation of the lung disease occurred with bilateral pneumothorax. Surgical pleurodesy and treatment with vinblastine and 6-mercaptopurine was given for 12 months, with no change in CT finding or clinical stability. At 13 years of age, reactivation of the lung disease occurred, and the patient presented with dyspnea and deterioration of the lung function. Cladribine 5 mg/m2/d subcutaneously for five days every 4 weeks was administered during six cycles. At 2.5 years after start of cladribine therapy the dyspnea had improved, the cystic lesions had decreased or resolved and the lung function parameters improved by more than 50%.

Lorillon et al. [47] reported one adult patients with multisystem LCH. At four years of age the patient had presented with skin, lymph node and pituitary stalk involvement with diabetes insipidus. Vinblastine induced complete remission. At 22 years of age cutaneous and lymph node LCH lesions recurred, and lung involvement was diagnosed. As vinblastine was not effective, treatment with cladribine subcutaneously was started. Skin and lymph node lesions resolved and impressive lung improvement occurred. At follow-up 4 years later he was asymptomatic and only received desmopressin for diabetes insipidus.

Nassar et al. [48] reported one adult patient with diabetes insipidus based on a hypophyseal microadenoma and advanced cystic pulmonary LCH. Despite cessation of smoking the lung function deteriorated and subcutaneous cladribine 0.1 mg/kg/d for 5 days during four cycles was administered. After treatment there was dramatic improvement of the lung function tests and radiologic abnormalities. At one year the patient remained in remission.

Discussion

Our summary presents cladribine use in children and adults with cutaneous, focal, multisystem, pulmonary and in low, intermediate and high risk LCH. Children were treated with cladribine monotherapy (Table 1) or cladribine and cytarabine (Table 2). In children cytarabine is often added when the disease is multisystem and high risk organs are involved (16-22), but also cladribine monotherapy has been used for high risk organ involvement [6,8,10,11]. In general cladribine plus or minus cytarabine is administered in second line after prior treatment with vinblastine and steroids, with or without other drugs [6-14,16-20,22]. There are two reports in which cladribine was administered in first line: a case of a brain stem tumor in which cladribine induced a sustained partial response and a case of multisystem LCH, in which cladribine was given in combination with vinblastine and prednisone; this combination induced a partial response, that was turned in a complete response when cladribine was combined with cytarabine [15,21]. Cladribine monotherapy induced in many cases complete durable response [6-8,10-14]. High response rates in children were also observed with the combination of cladribine and cytarabine. It is notable that this combination of drugs is only used in children and not in adults (Tables 1-5). This is due to the fact that childhood LCH often has a more aggressive course than adult LCH.

Table 1: Studies and case reports of children with LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Table 2: Studies and case reports of children with LCH who were treated with cladribine and cytarabine.

Table 3: Studies and case reports of adults with LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Table 4: Studies and case reports which included children and adults with LCH who were treated with cladribine.

Table 5: Studies and case reports of patients with pulmonary LCH who were treated with cladribine.

In adults cladribine monotherapy is more often used in first line than in children [23-27,29,30,36,37].

Cladribine penetrates the blood brain barrier. Cladribine is therefore used in first line when there is central nervous system involvement and induces promising responses [27,30,35,37]. In adults high durable complete response rates are obtained with cladribine monotherapy [25-30,32,34]. Although cladribine is seldomly used when there is cutaneous involvement only, in one case a complete remission was reported after one course of treatment [36]. Cutaneous lesions respond well to cladribine [24,36]. LCH of the pituitary stalk was often reported [13,30,37,39]. Although mass lesions generally resolve with cladribine, resolution of hormonal deficiency rarely occurs and requires lifelong hormone replacement therapy. Table 4 shows publications in which children and adults are jointly included [38-40]. The results show that cladribine is efficient in children as well as in adults. The survey by Adams et al. suggest a higher overall response rate in adults then in children, but this may depend on the type of disease, low, intermediate or high risk, and single or multisystem involvement more than the age. Pulmonary LCH is a distinct entity that often occurs in smokers [41-48]. Although smoking cessation alone may lead to regression, cladribine is often used either in first or second line and has been reported to induce dramatic improvement of nodular and cystic lesion and improvement of lung function also at long term follow-up [41-48]. Cladribine has generally been used intravenously in LCH, however subcutaneous use has been reported [12,25,26,30]. Cladribine administered subcutaneously is as efficient as intravenous administration [49,50]. In the publications in which subcutaneous use was reported, almost all patients obtained complete response [12,25,26,30]. The doses of cladribine varied considerable. In children with multiorgan involvement in whom cladribine was used in combination with cytarabine the dose exceeded generally 5 mg/m2/d for 5 days per cycle (Table 2), whereas the dose of 5 mg/m2/d or 0.1 to 0.14 mg/kg/d for 7 to 5 days per cycle is a dose commonly used as monotherapy in children and adults regardless of the extend of the disease (Tables 1, 3-5).

Conclusion

Cladribine is highly efficient in first line and second line treatment for relapsed or refractory LCH, either alone or in combination with cytarabine and can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously.

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