title: Safety and efficacy of rituximab plus bendamustine in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients: an Italian retrospective multicenter study.
abstract: Relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not suitable for high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has a dismal prognosis and no standard therapy. We designed an Italian multicenter retrospective study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of rituximab plus bendamustine (R-B) as salvage treatment in patients not eligible for ASCT because of age and/or comorbidity or in patients with post-ASCT recurrence. Fifty-five patients with a median age of 76 years were included. The overall response rate was 50%, including 28% complete remission and 22% partial remission. The median overall survival (OS) was 10.8 months. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 8.8 months. Eleven patients are still alive and in complete remission at last follow-up (12-71 months). Toxicity was moderate, mainly grades 1 and 2. R-B showed promising efficacy results with an acceptable toxicity profile and should be further investigated, possibly in combination with novel drugs.
authors.affiliation: a Hematology Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology , Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital , Piacenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Hematology , Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital , Torino , Italy ;
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiappella
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medical Oncology A , National Cancer Institute , Aviano , Italy ;
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.affiliation: d Day Hospital of Internal Medicine, Fiorenzuola d'Arda , Piacenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanlari
authors.affiliation: a Hematology Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology , Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital , Piacenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernuzzi
authors.affiliation: a Hematology Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology , Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital , Piacenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: e Department of Hematology , Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital , Ravenna , Italy ;
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: f Division of Hematology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Italy ;
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marasca
authors.affiliation: g Department of Hematology , Businco Hospital , Cagliari , Italy ;
authors.forename: Maria Giuseppina
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cabras
authors.affiliation: h Hematology, Padua University School of Medicine , Padova , Italy ;
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zambello
authors.affiliation: i Onco-Hematology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital , Vercelli , Italy ;
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santagostino
authors.affiliation: j Hematology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova-IRCCS , Reggio Emilia , Italy ;
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ilariucci
authors.affiliation: k Department of Medicine , Section of Hematology, University of Verona , Italy ;
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.affiliation: l Scientific Direction, IRCCS, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata , Rionero in Vulture , Italy ;
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.affiliation: m Medicine Department , Ospedale degli Infermi , Faenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.affiliation: n Division of Medical Oncology 1 , Istituto Oncologico Veneto-IRCCS , Padova , Italy ;
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: o Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Hematology, University of Pisa , Italy ;
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghio
authors.affiliation: p Department of Hematology Unit , Ospedale Annunziata , Cosenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: q Department of Hematology , Azienda Ospedaliera S. Andrea , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Christina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: a Hematology Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology , Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital , Piacenza , Italy ;
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallisa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride
keywords: Bendamustine; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; elderly; rituximab