title: Prolonged complete hematologic response in relapsed/refractory T-large granular lymphocyte leukemia after bendamustine treatment.
abstract: T-large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) is a chronic clonal proliferation of effector memory cytotoxic CD3+CD57+CD56-T cells and the current guidelines suggest immunosuppressive therapy as first-line therapy, but the treatment of refractory/relapsed patients is still challenging due to the lack of prospective studies. We describe a series of two refractory/relapsed T-LGLL patients successfully treated with bendamustine, a chemotherapeutic agent largely used for B-cell neoplasms, but poorly investigated for the treatment of T-cell diseases. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 3 and 6 months, respectively, and maintained for at least 20 months. One patient relapsed after a 20-month CR, but she was responsive to bendamustine therapy again, obtaining a further prolonged CR. Bendamustine as single agent or in combination could be a feasible therapeutic option in refractory/relapsed T-LGLL, especially for elderly patients because of its safety profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosamilio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giudice
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Annunziata
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pezzullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guariglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Selleri
keywords: LGL leukemia; bendamustine; chemotherapy; immunosuppression; salvage therapy