title: In vitro studies with bendamustine: enhanced activity in combination with rituximab.
abstract: Studies in vitro have shown that bendamustine, given as a monotherapy or in combination, can induce apoptosis in many cell types, including B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and low-grade lymphoma cells. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that bendamustine may also have synergistic effects in combination therapies. Rituximab is a promising new agent for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and has been shown to have synergistic actions with other chemotherapeutic agents. The actions of the combination of bendamustine and rituximab on ex vivo B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and the DOHH-2 cell line, derived from CD20-positive lymphoma cells, are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rummel
authors.forename: Kai U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoelzer
authors.forename: Paris S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mitrou
authors.forename: Eckhart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weidmann
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069283:Rituximab; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D000069283:Rituximab; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride