Alternating Thalidomide and Lenalidomide Therapy Plus Rituximab (ThRiL) as Initial Treatment for Patients With CLL

The investigators' hypothesis is that treatment of CLL with an alternating daily dosing schedule of thalidomide and lenalidomide may result in better tolerability by decreasing each agent's individual toxicities, while preserving efficacy, and therefore lead to a longer duration of therapy and improved responses. Additionally, the combination of the 2 agents may have additive or synergistic effects therapeutically. In Cycle -1, odd numbered patients will receive oral thalidomide daily days 1-14 followed by no treatment on days 15-28. Even numbered patients will receive oral lenalidomide daily on days 1-14 and then no treatment on days 15-28. Starting with cycle 1, patients will alternate daily thalidomide (every odd day) with daily lenalidomide (every even day) for days 1-28. Rituximab will be given on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 starting with Cycle 1, and then again every 6th cycle thereafter (cycles 7, 13, 19, etc.)