title: Bendamustine: new perspective for an old drug in lymphoproliferative disorders.
abstract: Bendamustine is an old bifunctional alkylating agent that also has potential antimetabolite properties, and only partial cross-resistance with other alkylators. Although it was synthesized in 1963 only few validated study results exist from this early period. More recently, its peculiar mechanism of action has reawakened interest in this drug that has been extensively studied in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Experience has also been reported in high-grade NHL and Hodgkin disease. Based on its unique structure, various strategies can be used for mechanism-based combination chemotherapeutic regimens with bendamustine. Moreover, data indicates that bendamustine when combined with rituximab is a valid therapeutic choice for patients with CLL or low-grade NHL demonstrating refractoriness to standard chemotherapy regimens. Furthermore, its documented favorable toxicity profile makes it a particularly useful treatment option for elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology/Haematology, Division of Haematology, Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milan, Italy. marco.montillo@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montillo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morra
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride