Reactogenicity, Immunogenicity of Trivalent Influenza Vaccine With Recombinant Interferon Alpha Among Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia focused on measuring Leukemia, CLL, Influenza Vaccine Trivalent Inactivated, TIV, Flu, Pegasys, Pegylated interferon, Roferon, Interferon Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Capable of understanding the protocol requirements and risks and providing written informed consent.
2. Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia according to established guidelines.
3. Patients with Rai stages 0 to 4.
4. Age >/= 18 years old.
5. If patients have been treated with antineoplastic therapy, it must have been finished 3 months or longer prior to enrollment.
6. Patients with complete or partial remission and those with stable (CLL) disease will be considered.
7. Patients who have received influenza vaccine in past 4 months will also be considered.
8. Patients willing to receive recombinant cytokine.
9. Patient willing to receive commercially available influenza vaccine that will not provide protection against the following years of influenza strains.
10. Patients must have adequate hepatic function defined as follows: total bilirubin </= 2.0 mg/dL; SGOT and /or SGPT </= 3 x upper normal limit of the reference laboratory value unless liver function abnormalities are considered due to underlying cancer or congenital hemolytic disorders.
11. Patient should avoid H2 blockers while on study. However, if H2 blockers are required to use, this will be reported and will be taken in consideration during response rate analysis.
12. Females patients who are able to have children must agrees to remain abstinent or use (or have their partner use) 2 acceptable methods of birth control during the time period starting 2 weeks prior to enrollment through 1 month from last vaccination dose. Acceptable methods of birth control are: intrauterine device (IUD), diaphragm with spermicide, contraceptive sponge and condom. If they suspect pregnancy during the study, they must notify the study doctor.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Concurrent serious medical illness in the opinion of Principle Investigator that could potentially interfere with protocol compliance.
2. Concurrent or previous malignancy whose prognosis is poor (< 90% probability of survival is 5 years).
3. History of known chronic viral infections within 12 months, including HIV and Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. A screening for hepatitis or HIV will not be performed for this study.
4. Positive screening pregnancy test within 2 weeks in non-menopausal women or breast-feeding.
5. Patients with known allergy to either vaccine or interferon preparation.
6. Patients with neutropenia (ANC < 500 cells/uL) within 4 weeks.
7. Patients with lymphocytopenia (ALC < 300 cells/uL) within 4 weeks.
8. Concomitant use of investigational vaccines and/or medications within four weeks prior to study entry, or expected use of experimental or licensed vaccines or blood/blood products prior to study completion.
9. Receipt of immunoglobulin in 3 months.
10. Subject is enrolled in a conflicting clinical trial.
11. History of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
12. Has an acute illness including an oral temperature greater than 100.4°F, within one week of vaccination.
13. In patients who have prior therapy with fludarabine or alemtuzumab (Campath®), the treatment must have completed 12 months prior to enrollment.
14. In patients who have prior therapy with Rituximab (Rituxan®), the treatment must have completed 6 months prior to enrollment.
15. Patients with history of medically significant psychiatric disease, especially endogenous depression (not reactive to diagnosis of cancer), psychosis and bipolar disorder.
16. Patients with seizure disorders requiring anticonvulsant therapy.
17. Patients with history of severe cardiac disease with New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade 3 or 4.
18. Patients with severe renal disease requiring hemodialysis.
19. Patients who have received H2 blockers such as Ranitidine, Cimetidine, or Famotidine within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.