Research into hairy cell leukaemia

Researchers are looking at the causes and treatment of hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). 

HCL is rare and so there are fewer trials compared to some types of cancer. Some of the trials mentioned on this page are international. They are not recruiting people from the UK. Some of these trials have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. 

We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out in HCL.

Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in. 

Research into the causes of hairy cell leukaemia

We don’t know what causes HCL. So doctors want to understand more about how and why it develops.

Researchers have found a genetic change (mutation) in people with HCL. It's called BRAF V600E. They know that this genetic change is important in the development of HCL. But it is not clear why this change happens.

Identifying this genetic change has provided new treatment options. There are drugs available that target this genetic change. Read more about these treatments below.

Looking for gene changes

Scientists are looking at cell samples from people with conditions like HCL. They are collecting samples of blood, bone marrow, tissue and spit (saliva). They want to discover more about the causes and possible future treatments.

Research into treatment for hairy cell leukaemia

Researchers are looking at:

• how to improve current treatments
• new drugs

Improving current treatments for hairy cell leukaemia

Researchers are always looking for ways to improve treatment.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for HCL. Doctors sometimes combine it with a targeted drug called rituximab. Researchers know that several chemotherapy drugs work well for people with HCL. These include:

• cladribine
• pentostatin

Some trials are also looking at another chemotherapy drug called bendamustine.

Researchers are looking at these chemotherapy drugs combined with rituximab. There are also studies looking at different ways of giving the drugs. And looking at the timing of treatment.

The researchers want to find out more about the best way to treat people with HCL.

New drugs for hairy cell leukaemia

Researchers are looking at new targeted and immunotherapy drugs. They want to find out how much of the drug is safe to give (the dose,) and find out more about the side effects.

Drugs being researched include:

• moxetumomab and rituximab for people whose HCL has come back (relapsed)

• ibrutinib for people with relapsed HCL 

• a combination of vemurafenib and obinutuzumab for people who have not yet had any treatment

• binimetinib

• encorafenib

Collecting information about people with hairy cell leukaemia

The Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation is based in the United States. It funds a number of treatment trials for people with HCL. They run a Patient Data Registry that is open to researchers across the world. This registry helps them gather information about as many people as possible with HCL. This should help them understand more about the disease. And understand why treatments may or may not work and more about the side effects.