title: Routine Use of Bendamustine in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: An Observational Study.
abstract: Bendamustine is an established treatment option in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and frequently used in Austria and Italy. Therefore, we analyzed 100 unselected, consecutive patients with CLL (treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory) receiving bendamustine in a real-life setting. Most patients were treated with bendamustine in combination with rituximab (BR). However, bendamustine monotherapy was additionally evaluated. Patients treated with BR had a significantly higher overall response rate of 76% (complete response=22%) when compared to those treated solely with bendamustine (overall response rate=50%; complete response=13%). Overall survival (OS) and progression -ree survival (PFS) were significantly lower in the bendamustine-treated group (OS=14.3 months; PFS=8.3 months) compared to the BR group (OS=42.7; PFS=22.5 months; both p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, patients with a good cytogenetic risk and those receiving BR had a significantly better OS. Grade 3/4 hematological complications were seen in 32% of the patients. Hence, bendamustine, especially in combination with rituximab, is an effective therapy with manageable toxicity for non-selected patients with CLL including those pre-treated with fludarabine and the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria marijana.ninkovic@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ninkovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiegl
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and CBMT, Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mondello
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kocher
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Waldthaler
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Irmgard
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verdorfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steurer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastl
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pircher
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride
keywords: Bendamustine; chemotherapy; chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); immunotherapy; rituximab