OBJECTIVES:

• Compare overall and disease-related survival of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with high-dose chlorambucil induction therapy with or without low-dose chlorambucil maintenance therapy.
• Compare the time to salvage treatment in these patients treated with these regimens.
• Compare the toxic effects of these regimens in these patients.
• Compare the treatment-related mortality of these patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center, time to complete response (before 12 weeks vs after 12 weeks vs partial response), and cytopenia at diagnosis (Binet stage A+B vs C).

All patients receive induction therapy comprising high-dose oral chlorambucil daily. Treatment continues until achievement of complete response or a maximum of 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients who respond to induction therapy are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms for maintenance therapy.

• Arm I: Patients receive low-dose oral chlorambucil twice a week. Therapy continues for up to 5 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. If disease progression occurs, then patients may proceed to salvage therapy.
• Arm II: Patients receive no maintenance therapy. If disease progresses, patients receive induction therapy again. If disease does not respond to re-induction therapy, then patients may proceed to salvage therapy.
• Salvage therapy: Patients with progressive disease during maintenance therapy receive fludarabine IV daily and cyclophosphamide IV daily on days 1-3. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 3-6 courses.

Patients are followed monthly for 3 months, every 2 months for 6 months, and then every 3 months thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 470 patients will be accrued for this study within 4.7 years.