Bendamustine as monotherapy and in combination regimens for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-hodgkin lymphoma: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we carried out a retrospective analysis of the efficacy and toxicity of bendamustine in patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases.


METHODS
Bendamustine was administered both as monotherapy and in combined protocols to 92 patients, including 76 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and 16 patients with indolent lymphomas. Bendamustine plus rituximab was used to treat 65.2% of the patients, and 34.8% of the patients received bendamustine as monotherapy.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 64.2%, including the complete response rate (18.5%) and the partial response rate (45.7%). The median overall survival (OS) was 11.5 months. Among the pretreatment parameters, β₂-microglobulin (RR = 1.413; p = 0.001) and hemoglobin levels (RR = 0.85; p = 0.03) significantly influenced survival. The OS was significantly longer in patients who received ≤2 lines of previous therapy compared to >3 lines (p = 0.043; log-rank test) and those who received ≥4 courses of therapy with bendamustine (p = 0.0007; log-rank test). Toxicity was predominantly hematological, including grade III/IV neutropenia in 33.7%, thrombocytopenia in 13%, and anemia in 13% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Bendamustine, both in monotherapy and in combination regimens, is an effective therapy with a favorable toxicity profile in patients with indolent B-cell malignancies.
Department of Hematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Iwona
I
Hus
Dariusz
D
Jawniak
Magdalena
M
Gorska-Kosicka
Aleksandra
A
Butrym
Justyna
J
Dzietczenia
Tomasz
T
Wrobel
Mazur
M
Grzegorz
Ewa
E
Lech-Maranda
Krzysztof
K
Warzocha
Anna
A
Waszczuk-Gajda
W Wiktor
WW
Jedrzejczak
Małgorzata
M
Krawczyk-Kulis
Sławomira
S
Kyrcz-Krzemien
Lidia
L
Poplawska
Jan
J
Walewski
Anna
A
Dmoszynska
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D000069283:Rituximab; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride