pentostatin + cyclophosphamide + rituximab + mitoxantrone

PCRM is a chemoimmunotherapy regimen developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other low-grade B-cell neoplasms. The regimen combines four active agents: pentostatin, a purine analog that inhibits adenosine deaminase; cyclophosphamide, an alkylating agent that causes DNA cross-linking; rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the CD20 antigen on B-lymphocytes; and mitoxantrone, an anthracenedione chemotherapy agent that intercalates into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. This combination was specifically designed for previously treated patients with CLL and various low-grade B-cell lymphomas, including small lymphocytic lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. Clinical data published in 2007 indicated high activity with a 94% response rate in previously treated CLL patients, including those refractory to prior therapies.

Other names

PCRM regimenPCR-M