title: Phase II multicenter study of bendamustine plus rituximab in patients with relapsed indolent B-cell and mantle cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bendamustine HCl is a bifunctional mechlorethamine derivative with clinical activity in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study evaluated bendamustine plus rituximab in 67 adults with relapsed, indolent B-cell or mantle cell lymphoma without documented resistance to prior rituximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received rituximab 375 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 and bendamustine 90 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 2 and 3 of each 28-day cycle for four to six cycles. An additional dose of rituximab was administered 1 week before the first cycle and 4 weeks after the last cycle. Sixty-six patients (median age, 60 years) received at least one dose of both drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall response rate was 92% (41% complete response, 14% unconfirmed complete response, and 38% partial response). Median duration of response was 21 months (95% CI, 18 to 24 months). Median progression-free survival time was 23 months (95% CI, 20 to 26 months). Outcomes were similar for patients with indolent or mantle cell histologies. The combination was generally well tolerated; the primary toxicity was myelosuppression (grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 36%; grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, 9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bendamustine plus rituximab is an active combination in patients with relapsed indolent and mantle cell lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: QE II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: K Sue
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: van der Jagt
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Jordan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Herst
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tulpule
authors.forename: Lee S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Schwartzberg
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lemieux
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Cheson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000139:chemically induced; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D000069283:Rituximab; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride