Bendamustine in association with rituximab for first-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in frail patients ineligible for R-CHOP/R-CHOP-like treatments

R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) has been considered the standard of care for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients, including in the elderlies, and represent the current standard treatment. Ineligibility for R-CHOP-like treatments seems to be associated with shorter survival. Recent studies have shown that bendamustine and rituximab is linked, in elderly patients affected by DLBCL. Here we report our experience with BR in 40 elderly frail patients affected by DLBCL ineligibles for R-CHOP. The OOR was 77.5%, with 22 complete responses and 9 partial responses statistical analysis showed no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between patients aged 80 years and older and patients younger than 80 years (6·4 vs. 10·2 months, respectively, P = 0·43). Complete responders were more likely patients with good performance status, (ECOG 0-1) 13 patients (60%), 9 patients (40%) were ECOG 2; of the 9 patients who achieved partial response, 7 patients had ECOG 0-1 and 2 patients had ECOG 2. Four patients had stable disease. Progression-free survival (PFS) median PFS was 13.5 months. These preliminary results showed that bendamustine and rituximab has been associated with high response rates, acceptable toxicity in frail DLBCL patients and high rate of OSS. In older patients with advanced IPI scores, no significant difference in OS were observed between patients aged 80 years and older and patients younger than 80 years. We conclude that bendamustine and rituximab seems to be a reasonable alternative for frail DLBCL patients.