title: United Kingdom Myeloma Forum (UKMF) position statement on the use of bendamustine in myeloma.
abstract: Bendamustine is a unique bifunctional alkylating agent with promising activity in myeloma. Despite the increasing number of studies demonstrating its efficacy in both the upfront and relapse settings, including patients with renal insufficiency, the optimal use of bendamustine, in terms of dosage, schedule and combination with other agents, has yet to be defined. It is currently licensed for use as frontline treatment with prednisolone for patients with myeloma who are unsuitable for transplantation and who are contraindicated for thalidomide and bortezomib. Studies in relapsed/refractory patients are currently ongoing with other combinations. Given the increasing data to date, the UK Myeloma Forum believes that bendamustine with steroids alone or in combination with a novel agent could be considered for patients with multiply relapsed myeloma. This document provides guidance for the use of bendamustine for patients with myeloma until the results of definitive studies are available.
authors.affiliation: Haematology, Heart of England NHS Trust, Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Haematology, South London Healthcare NHS Trust, Haematology Kent, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bowcock
authors.affiliation: Myeloma UK, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Avon Haematology Unit, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Sa
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavenagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, St. James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Haemato-Oncology Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service Laboratory, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Snowden
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Haemato-Oncology Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride
keywords: Myeloma; UKMF; bendamustine; relapse; treatment