Efficacy/Safety of Frontline Alemtuzumab (Campath, MabCampath) vs Chlorambucil in Patients With Progressive B-Cell Lymphocytic Leukemia

Inclusion Criteria: Histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of B-CLL with CD5, CD19, or CD23 positive clone. Rai Stage I through IV disease with evidence of progression as evidenced by the presence of one or more of the following:1. Disease-related B symptoms (fever of greater than 38 celsius (100.5 F) for greater than or equal to 2 weeks without evidence of infection, night sweats without evidence of infection, weight loss >10% within previous 6 months. 2. Evidence of progression marrow failure as manifested by: a. decrease in hemoglobin to <11g/dL or b. decrease in platelet count to <100x10 to the ninth/L within the previous 6 months or c. decrease in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) to <1.0x10 to the ninth/L within the previous 6 months. 3. Progressive splenomegaly to >2 cm below the left costal margin or other organomegaly with progressive increase over 2 consecutive clinic visits greater than or equal to 2 weeks apart. 4. Progressive lymphadenopathy with at least 5 sites of involvement with either two nodes at least 2cm in longest diameter or one node greater than or equal to 5cm in longest diameter with progressive increase over 2 consecutive visits greater than or equal to weeks apart. 5. Progressive lymphocytes with an increase of >50% over a 2-month period, or an anticipated doubling time of less than 6 months. Received no previous chemotherapy for B-CLL. Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. WHO performance status of 0, 1, or 2. Serum creatinine less or equal to 2.0 times the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) value. Adequate liver function as indicated by a total bilirubin, AST, and ALT less or equal to 2 times the institutional ULN value, unless directly attributable to the disease. Female patients with childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to randomization. Male and female patients must agree to use an effective contraceptive method while on study treatment, if appropriate, and for a minimum of 6 months after study therapy. Signed, written informed consent. 18 years of age or older. Exclusion Criteria: ANC less than 500 million per liter or platelet count less than 10 billion per liter. Medical condition requiring chronic use of oral corticosteroids. Autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Previous bone marrow transplant. Use of investigational agents within previous 30 days. Positive for HIV. Past history of anaphylaxis following exposure to rat or mouse-derived complementary determining region (CDR) grafted humanized monoclonal antibodies. Active infection. Serious cardiac or pulmonary disease that could interfere with their ability to participate in the study. Recent documented (with in 2 years) of active tuberculosis (TB), current active TB, or currently receiving anti-tuberculosis medication. Active secondary malignancy. Central nervous system involvement with CLL. Positive quantitative CMV by PCR assay (using the laboratory normal ranges). A diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma. Other severe, concurrent diseases or mental disorders. Pregnant or lactating women.