Fludarabine for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

NICE has recommended that people with B-cell chronic leukaemia (CLL) who have had to stop their first chemotherapy treatment (for example because it was causing side effects or becasue their disease had progressed), may be treated with fludarabine tablets.  Fludarabine may be introduced at the stage where poeple with CLL have previously been offered one of the following treatments:

• cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone (CHOP)
• cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone (CAP), or
• cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone (CVP)

People with CLL should only be given fludarabine by a drip when their condition is such that they are unable to take the tablets.

• Other information

  • TA29 Leukaemia (lymphocytic) - fludarabine: Summary
  • TA29 Leukaemia (lymphocytic) - fludarabine: Guidance (html)
  • TA29 Leukaemia (lymphocytic) - fludarabine: Guidance (web format)

  How this guidance was produced

  Background information

  • Review decision
  • Review proposal
  • Fludarabine as second line therapy for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: Cost-effectiveness annexe
  • Fludarabine as second line therapy for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: Effectiveness annexe
  • Fludarabine as second line therapy for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia - HTA report (main)
  • NICE issues guidance on chemotherapy agents for breast cancer and leukaemia

Guidance formats

• Web format
• Full Guidance (PDF)
• Patient version (PDF)

Leukaemia (lymphocytic) - fludarabine

Guideline for patients and carers (PDF)