Efficacy of Chemo-Free Combination Therapy with BRAF Inhibitor and Rituximab in Classic Hairy Cell Leukemia: Insights from the French Experience

Background: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare form of leukemia. The introduction of purine analogs has revolutionized its prognosis, leading to a life expectancy closer to that of the general population. However, patients experience relapses and require other treatment options. The BRAF V600E mutation is present in 80-100% of patients with HCL, which has prompted the use of BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib or dabrafenib) in this condition. Recently, the combination of vemurafenib with rituximab has shown efficacy with durable responses in relapsed patients.