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Rituximab plus bendamustine is active in pretreated patients with extragastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma)

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Abstract

Recently, the combination of rituximab and bendamustine (R-Benda) has been defined as highly active in patients with follicular lymphomas, but little is known about the efficacy of R-Benda in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. In a retrospective analysis, we have defined 14 patients with MALT lymphoma undergoing therapy with R-Benda. Seven patients were female and seven male (aged 44–88 years), and all had relapsed extragastric MALT lymphoma. R-Benda was given at first relapse in ten patients, while four patients had more than two prior forms of therapy. Bendamustine was given at a dose of 90 mg/m2 on days 2 and 3 in ten patients and at 70 mg/m2 in three patients, while all received 375 mg/m2 rituximab on day 1. Ten patients received six courses of therapy, while two patients discontinued therapy after three, and one after four courses for personal reasons, while one patient had progressive disease after four courses. Tolerance of therapy was excellent, and all except one patient responded. Ten patients achieved a complete remission (CR) (71 %), three a partial remission (21 %), while one patient progressed. Toxicities were mild and mainly hematological but did not result in relevant delays or the necessity for dose reductions. After a median follow-up of 23 months (range, 4–42+), 13 patients are alive and one patient has relapsed 23 months after initial CR. Our data suggest high activity and good tolerance of R-Benda in patients with relapsed MALT lymphoma despite intensive pretreatment in some patients. In view of this, prospective studies are warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, 1090, Austria

    Barbara Kiesewetter, Christoph C. Zielinski & Markus Raderer

  2. Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Marius E. Mayerhoefer

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Julius Lukas

  4. Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Leonhard Müllauer

Authors
  1. Barbara Kiesewetter
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  2. Marius E. Mayerhoefer
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  3. Julius Lukas
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  4. Christoph C. Zielinski
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  5. Leonhard Müllauer
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  6. Markus Raderer
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Correspondence to Markus Raderer.

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Kiesewetter, B., Mayerhoefer, M.E., Lukas, J. et al. Rituximab plus bendamustine is active in pretreated patients with extragastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma). Ann Hematol 93, 249–253 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-013-1865-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-013-1865-3

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