The role of bendamustine in the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Ibrahim T Aldoss¹, Susan M Blumel², Philip J Bierman²

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; ²Section of Hematology – Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Abstract: There is no consensus on recommendations for the treatment of relapsed and refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Bendamustine hydrochloride (bendamustine) has recently been approved for treatment of these patients. Bendamustine is a uniquely structured alkylating agent that lacks cross-resistance with other alkylators. This agent has a high degree of activity against a variety of tumor cell lines. Clinically, bendamustine has demonstrated activity against indolent NHL, chronic lymphocytic lymphoma, multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Moreover, studies have validated its activity in patients with indolent NHL who are resistant to purine analogs and rituximab. The cytotoxic activity of bendamustine has been shown to be synergistic with rituximab in hematological malignancies. The incidence of alopecia is significantly less than with other alkylating agents. Myelosuppression is the major toxicity associated with bendamustine.

Keywords: bendamustine, Treanda, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, alkylating agent, chronic lymphocytic lymphoma