Immunochemotherapy with Fludarabine (F), Cyclophosphamide (C), and Rituximab (R) (fcr) Versus Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide (fc) Improves Response Rates and Progression-Free Survival (pfs) of Previously Untreated Patients (pts) with Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Cll)

Introduction: Previous phase II studies have suggested that a combination of FCR may increase the outcome of both untreated and relapsed CLL pts. In order to validate this concept the German CLL study group (GCLLSG) initiated a multicentre, multinational phase III trial, CLL8, to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of FCR versus FC for the first-line treatment of pts with advanced CLL.