%0 Clinical Trial, Phase II
%T Bendamustine, bortezomib and rituximab produces durable complete remissions in patients with previously untreated, low grade lymphoma.
%A Flinn IW
%A Thompson DS
%A Boccia RV
%A Miletello G
%A Lipman A
%A Flora D
%A Cuevas D
%A Papish SW
%A Berdeja JG
%J Br J Haematol
%V 180
%N 3
%D 02 2018
%M 29193021
%F 8.615
%R 10.1111/bjh.15044
%X This Phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of bendamustine, bortezomib and rituximab in patients with previously untreated low-grade lymphoma. Eligible patients had low grade lymphoma with no previous systemic disease treatment. Treatment for all patients was given in 28-day cycles for a maximum of 6 cycles. Patients received rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on days 1, 8 and 15 of cycle 1 and day 1 of cycles 2-6; bendamustine 90 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 2; and bortezomib 1·6 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8 and 15. Patients were permitted to begin maintenance treatment with rituximab 6 months after completion of study treatment and after 6-month follow-up assessments had been conducted. Fifty-four eligible patients were enrolled. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were leucopenia (28%), neutropenia (30%) and lymphopenia (17%). There were no treatment-related deaths and 1 unrelated death on study (embolic stroke). The overall response rate was 94% for all patients. The median follow-up was 54 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression-free survival and overall survival at 36 months were 75% and 88%, respectively. The treatment regimen was well tolerated and produced high response rates. Further study of this regimen in patients with previously untreated lymphoma is warranted.