First-Line Rituximab Plus Bendamustine for Indolent and Mantle Cell Lymphomas

The combination was more effective and less toxic than standard R-CHOP.

Rituximab-based chemotherapy is the accepted standard of care for initial treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Although the specific cytotoxic regimen varies among institutions, R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) is most commonly used.

To test the effectiveness of a new rituximab regimen in this setting, investigators conducted an industry-sponsored, phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial comparing standard R-CHOP versus rituximab plus bendamustine, a cytotoxic alkylating agent with high activity in patients with relapsed B-cell NHL. The current study involved 515 patients with newly diagnosed stage III or IV mantle cell lymphoma ineligible for stem-cell…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee