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Chlorambucil (Leukeran)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Chlorambucil

What it is

Chlorambucil is an oral alkylating chemotherapy medicine, a nitrogen mustard that cross-links DNA. It acts slowly and gently and has been used for decades for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, especially in older people, and for some low-grade lymphomas, today often combined with an antibody. It is sold as Leukeran.

How genes come into it

Chlorambucil is broken down in the liver into phenylacetic acid mustard, which is also active. The few gene studies listing it, in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, looked at CXCL12 and CYP2B6 for response. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Chlorambucil. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (1 rated variant)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

CXCL12 rs1801157: Level 3. Efficacy: Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell. 1.

Response (2 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

CXCL12 rs1801157: Genotypes CT + TT are associated with decreased response to alemtuzumab, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, prednisone, rituximab or vincristine in people with Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell as compared to genotype CC.

CYP2B6 CYP2B6*1, CYP2B6*6: CYP2B6 *1/*6 + *6/*6 is not associated with response to chlorambucil in people with Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell as compared to CYP2B6 *1/*1.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Alkeran (Alkylating Agents)

Alkylating Agents (class) (Alkylating Agents)

Cytoxan (Alkylating Agents)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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