Mathias J. Rummel, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at the University Hospital Giessen in Germany, explains that examining the chemical structure of bendamustine (Treanda) reveals that it is a hybrid compound that combines the properties of an alkylating agent with those of a purine analog, which makes it a unique and effective therapy for lymphoma.

In a clinical trial that compared the combination of bendamustine and rituximab (B-R) to the standard R-CHOP regimen, for patients with indolent and mantle cell lymphoma, it was found that the B-R combination resulted in less neutropenia and prolonged progression-free survival by 38.3 months. Additionally, the B-R combination resulted in more lymphoctyopenia, which aligns with the treatment goal for a lymphoproliferative disorder.

Videos

Dr. Mathias Rummel, from the University Hospital Giessen in Germany, on the Bendamustine Chemical Structure

Dr. Rummel on the Chemical Structure of Bendamustine 

Mathias J. Rummel, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at the University Hospital Giessen in Germany, discusses the long-term results of a phase III trial that examined the front-line combination of bendamustine (Treanda) and rituximab (Rituxan) for patients with indolent and mantle cell lymphomas. 

The 514-patient trial compared the combination of bendamustine and rituximab (B-R) to the standard chemotherapy regimen R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), which is widely used as a first-line treatment for many non-Hodgkin lymphomas. 

The investigators initially expected to find a better toxicity profile and non-inferiority of B-R over R-CHOP; however, they were pleased to find that B-R was able to delay disease progression longer than R-CHOP. 

At the long-term follow up, the B-R arm demonstrated a median progression-free survival of 69.5 months compared to 31.2 months for R-CHOP. Additionally, the side effects associated with the B-R combination were far less than those seen with R-CHOP. 

This data solidifies the superiority of B-R over R-CHOP in the font-line, for indolent and mantle cell lymphomas.

Dr. Mathias Rummel, from University Hospital Giessen in Germany, on Bendamustine Plus Rituximab in Indolent and Mantle Cell Lymphomas

Mathias J. Rummel, MD, PhD

Articles

Dr. Rummel on the Chemical Structure of Bendamustine

Dr. Rummel on Treanda Plus Rituxan in Indolent Lymphoma