2015•Leukemia & lymphoma/Leukemia and lymphomaOpen access
A phase II study of bendamustine in combination with rituximab as initial treatment for patients with indolent non-follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Stefano Luminari, Maria Cecilia Goldaniga, Marina Cesaretti, Lorella Orsucci, Alessandra Tucci, Alessandro Pulsoni b, Flavia Salvi, Luca Arcaini, Angelo Michele Carella, Alessandra Tedeschi, Antonello Pinto, Caterina Cecilia Stelitano, Luca Baldini
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Abstract
The purpose of this phase 2 study was to determine the activity and safety of six cycles of bendamustine and eight rituximab (RB) as first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced stage non-follicular indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (INFL). The primary end-point was the complete response rate (CRR) with expected CRR of 75%. Sixty-nine patients were enrolled; median age was 65 years (45-75), 65% were male, 93% of patients had stage IV disease. Complete and overall response rates were 48% (95% CI = 35.6-60.2) and 86% (CI = 75.0-92.8). The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (43%), thrombocytopenia (7%) and anemia (4%); whereas the rate of febrile neutropenia was very low (3%). At a median follow-up of 22 months (1-43 months), 2-year progression-free survival was 89% (CI = 79-95) and 2-year overall survival was 96% (CI = 87-99). RB combination is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced stage previously untreated INFL.
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