cyclophosphamide + pentostatin

Cyclophosphamide + pentostatin (PC) is a chemotherapy combination regimen that pairs an alkylating agent (cyclophosphamide) with a purine analog (pentostatin). This combination was developed as an alternative to other purine analog-alkylator combinations (like fludarabine-chlorambucil) that had shown excessive toxicity due to overlapping myelosuppression and immunosuppression[1][2]. The regimen typically consists of pentostatin 4 mg/m² and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² administered on day 1 of a 21-day cycle for six treatments[1][2]. This combination has shown effectiveness in treating previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with response rates of approximately 74%, including in fludarabine-refractory patients[1]. The combination demonstrates acceptable myelosuppression with relative sparing of thrombopoiesis compared to other regimens[1]. In clinical practice, this combination is often further enhanced with the addition of rituximab (forming the PCR regimen), which appears to confer a survival advantage without significantly adding to toxicity[2][4].

Other names

PC