Rituximab plus Bendamustine as front line treatment in frail elderly ( > 70 years) patients with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a phase II multicenter study of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi.

Rituximab plus Bendamustine as front line treatment in frail elderly (>70 years) patients with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a phase II multicenter study of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi. Haematologica. 2018 May 10;: Authors: Storti S, Spina M, Pesce EA, Salvi F, Merli M, Ruffini A, Cabras G, Chiappella A, Angelucci E, Fabbri A, Liberati AM, Tani M, Musuraca G, Molinari A, Petrilli MP, Palladino C, Ciancia R, Ferrario A, Gasbarrino C, Monaco F, Fraticelli V, De Vellis A, Merli F, Luminari S Abstract We conducted a phase II study to assess activity and safety profile of bendamustine and rituximab in elderly patients with untreated Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma who were prospectively defined as frail using a simplified version of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Patients had to be > 70 years of age, with histologically confirmed Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Frail patients were those younger than 80 years with a frail profile at Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment or older than 80 years with an unfit profile. Treatment consisted of 4-6 courses of bendamustine (90 mg/m2 d 1-2) and rituximab (375 mg/m2 d1) administered every 28 days. Co-primary study endpoints were Complete Remission rate and the rate of extra-hematological adverse events. Forty-nine patients were enrolled and 45 confirmed eligible. Overall 24 patients achieved a complete remission (53%; 95% CI 38 to 68%) and the Overall Response Rate was 62% ...
Source: Haematologica - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: Haematologica Source Type: research