Useful Links

A growing number of organizations provide information on leukemia, clinical trials, as well as links to sources of support for patients and their families. The list below includes many of these groups.

American Cancer Society

A nationwide, community- based voluntary health organization committed to fighting cancer through balanced programs of research, education, patient service, advocacy, and rehabilitation.
http://www.cancer.org/

CancerCare

A national non-profit organization that provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer.
http://www.cancercare.org/

CenterWatch

An organization that provides information services used by patients, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, CROs (contract research organizations) and research centers involved in clinical research around the world.
http://www.centerwatch.org/

Childhood Leukemia Foundation

A national non-profit organization that offers a wide range of services at no charge to the child and family and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of children with cancer.
http://www.clf4kids.org/

ClinicalTrials.gov

A website that provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/

CureSearch

CureSearch unites the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) through a shared mission to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent cancer through scientific discovery and compassionate care.
http://www.curesearch.org/

HealthInsuranceInfo.net

HealthInsuranceInfo.net offers free and updated Consumer Guides for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance for each state and the District of Columbia, as well as “A Consumer's Guide to Handling Disputes with your Employer or Private Health Plan.” This site also offers up-to-date information on a variety of other health insurance topics.
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/

Kids Health

Provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use.
http://www.kidshealth.org/

Ped-Onc Resource Center

Resources and information for parents of children with cancer . . . by parents of children with cancer.
http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/cfissues/maillist.html

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

A voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/

National Cancer Institute

A component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Cancer Institute coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care of cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/

National Children’s Leukemia Foundation

A non-profit organization in the fight against leukemia and cancer for children and adults.
http://www.leukemiafoundation.org/

National Marrow Donor Program

An organization dedicated to helping people who need a life-saving marrow or blood cell transplant by connecting patients, doctors, donors and researchers to resources they need.
http://www.marrow.org/

---

How Clolar is Used

Clolar is a type of medication to treat children, ages 1 to 21 with a type of leukemia called relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), after at least 2 other treatment attempts have failed. Clolar can reduce the number of leukemia cells in the blood. At this time we do not know if Clolar will help a child with ALL live longer or cure him or her of the cancer.

Important Safety Information for Patients

Serious side effects

Clolar can cause serious side effects that include:

• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)/capillary leak syndrome (CLS). Signs include fast breathing, fast heartbeat, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. These signs should be reported to the physician right away, as SIRS and CLS can be life-threatening if not treated right way. If your child experiences clinically significant signs of SIRS or CLS, your physician should stop Clolar immediately and consider giving your child steroids, diuretics, and albumin. When your child has stabilized, Clolar can be continued, usually at a lower dose.
• Bone marrow suppression and infection. Clolar can stop your child’s bone marrow from making enough red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Serious side effects can result from this, and include severe infection (sepsis), bleeding, and anemia.
• Effects on pregnancy and breastfeeding. Females should not become pregnant or breastfeed during treatment with Clolar because Clolar may harm the baby.

Other side effects

The most common side effects with Clolar are stomach problems (including vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea), and effects on blood cells (including low red and white blood cells count, low platelet count, fever, and infection). A fast heartbeat has been noted in some patients taking Clolar. Clolar can also affect the liver and kidneys. For these reasons, your child’s healthcare professional will do blood tests to monitor his or her blood cells, kidney function, and liver function.

Treatment with Clolar quickly reduces the number of leukemia cells in your child’s blood. For this reason, your doctor should monitor your child for signs and symptoms of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), as well as signs and symptoms of cytokine release, which can develop into SIRS, CLS, and organ problems. Your doctor is encouraged to give continuous IV fluids throughout the five days of Clolar treatment to reduce certain side effects. Your doctor may also prescribe allopurinol to reduce the build-up of uric acid that occurs with TLS. Your doctor should stop the Clolar treatment if your child develops low blood pressure for any reason during the five days of treatment.

Please speak with your healthcare professional if you have questions about Clolar. Also, please see full prescribing information.