RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Colony-stimulating factors, such as GM-CSF, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Giving rituximab together with GM-CSF may be an effective treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving rituximab together with GM-CSF works in treating patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
OBJECTIVES: * Determine the complete and overall response rate in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with rituximab and sargramostim (GM-CSF). * Determine the time to progression in patients treated with this regimen. * Determine the effects of this regimen on CD20 antigen expression and soluble CD20 levels in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a parallel-group, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to disease status Patients receive rituximab IV on days 4, 11, 18, and 25 and sargramostim (GM-CSF) subcutaneously on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31, 33, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45, 47, 50, 52, and 54 (course 1). Patients with responding disease may receive an additional course of treatment. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for up to 3 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 130 patients will be accrued for this study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Purpose
TREATMENT
Overall response rate
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