title: Retreatment with bendamustine-containing regimens in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent B-cell lymphomas achieves high response rates and some long lasting remissions.
abstract: Bendamustine and bendamustine/rituximab combinations have shown high efficacy in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and indolent B-cell malignancies (non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL). No data exist about bendamustine retreatment after relapse, concerning efficacy and toxicity in this patient population. Eighty-eight outpatients (57 patients with CLL, 31 patients with NHL) who had previously been treated with bendamustine were retreated with a bendamustine regimen. Treatment consisted of bendamustine (B) or bendamustine + mitoxantrone (BM) or bendamustine + rituximab (BR) or bendamustine + mitoxantrone + rituximab (BMR). Median age was 72 years (50-88). A reversible grade 3 or 4 leukocytopenia or thrombocytopenia was observed in 24% and 13%, respectively. The overall response rate (ORR) was 76% (7% complete remission [CR], 69% partial remission [PR]) with 77% (6% CR, 71% PR) in CLL and 71% (8% CR, 63% PR) in NHL. ORR according to regimen was as follows: B: 57% (14% CR, 43% PR), BM: 70% (4% CR, 66% PR), BR: 55% (10% CR, 45% PR), BMR: 84% (7% CR, 78% PR). Bendamustine retreatment is feasible and achieves high response rates and some long lasting remissions.
authors.affiliation: Praxisklinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Koblenz, Germany. weide@onkologie-koblenz.de
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weide
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feiten
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Friesenhahn
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heymanns
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kleboth
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomalla
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Roye
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köppler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride