Conditions: Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic Lymphoma, Small Lymphocytic
Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemia small lymphocytic lymphoma rituximab beta-glucan
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 2
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine how well subjects respond to treatment with Rituximab plus Beta-Glucan.

Detailed description:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in adults. CLL is a cancer of the B-lymphocytes, which make antibodies that help protect the body against harmful foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. Similar to CLL, small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a less-common cancer of the B-lymphocytes. In SLL, the abnormal lymphocytes mainly affect the lymph nodes; in CLL, the abnormal lymphocytes mainly affect the blood and bone marrow.

Current drug therapies for CLL/SLL are known to increase the severity of pre-existing low blood cell counts, which in turn increase the risk of infections in patients. Research to improve the safety and effectiveness of CLL/SLL therapy is currently ongoing. One such therapy being investigated is Rituximab.

Rituximab is a type of drug known as a therapeutic antibody. Therapeutic antibodies are laboratory-created substances that attach onto a protein on the surface of a cell. After binding to the cell, the therapeutic antibody can block the growth of the tumor and/or trigger the body's immune system to attack the target, and can also sensitize a cancer cell to chemotherapy. Rituximab is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of CLL/SLL.

Beta-Glucan (Imucell WGP) is an over-the-counter dietary supplement that enhances the body's immune system. ImucellTM WGP is extracted from food-grade baker's yeast, which is permitted for use in food by the FDA. Animal studies have shown that Imucell WGP helps trigger the white blood cells to destroy cancer cells. Other animal studies combining Rituximab with Imucell WGP have shown greater tumor regression and tumor-free survival.

Arms:

Interventions: intervention 1: Rituximab intervention 2: Beta-Glucan
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 375 mg/m2, IV (in the vein), once a week for 4 weeks intervention 2: 250 mg, orally (tablet), three times a day for 9 weeks

Protocol document: