skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8129

Bendamustine HCL for the treatment of relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Review

(1781) Views  (724) Full article downloads

Author: Rudolf Weide

Published Date September 2008 Volume 2008:4(4) Pages 727 - 732
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S3158

Rudolf Weide

Praxisklinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Koblenz, Germany

Abstract: Bendamustine is an alkylating agent which also shows properties of a purine analog. Because of its unique mechanism of action it shows activity in relapsed indolent lymphomas which are resistant to alkylating agents, purine analogs, and rituximab. Bendamustine has a favorable toxicity profile causing no alopecia and only a moderate hematotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity. Combinations of bendamustine with mitoxantrone and rituximab and with rituximab alone have been shown to be highly active in relapsed/refractory indolent lymphomas and mantle cell lymphomas achieving long lasting complete remissions. Because of only moderate toxicity these combinations can be applied safely in elderly patients who can be treated in an outpatient setting.

Keywords: bendamustine, relapsed-indolent, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma