Combination therapies in HCL 21
formally established. Although it will be possible to
Combination treatments to prolong overall survival
verify whether the combinations improve disease- or
Although the best response is important to prolong relapse-free survival, it will be difficult to verify
relapse or disease-free survivals, the same does not whether the same combinations will be able to affect
appear to be mandatory to have prolonged overall any better the overall survival of HCL.
survivals [21,27]. In the long-term analysis of the last
series at the RMH, only eight HCL-related deaths Declaration of interest: The authors report no
were reported in 233 patients followed for a median conflicts of interest. The authors alone are respon-
time of 16 years from diagnosis. The change sible for the content and writing of the paper.
in prognosis was largely due to the introduction of
IFN-a and, most importantly, PAs pentostatin and
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