Cladribine is a purine analogue and antineoplastic agent used primarily in the therapy of hairy cell leukemia. Cladribine is typically given intravenously daily for 7 days, usually as a single course, and has not been associated with serum enzyme elevations during therapy or with instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury with jaundice.
Cladribine is 2'-Deoxyadenosine in which the hydrogen at position 2 on the purine ring has been substituted by chlorine. It inhibits the synthesis and repair of DNA, particularly in lymphocytes and monocytes, and is used as an antimetabolite antineoplastic drug for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies including hairy-cell leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent and an immunosuppressive agent. It is a purine 2'-deoxyribonucleoside and an organochlorine compound.