Efficacy and Safety of Bendamustine-Rituximab for Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma.

INTRODUCTION

Bendamustine-rituximab (BR) has demonstrated efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of various indolent B-cell lymphomas, but there is limited data regarding its outcomes in nodular lymphocyte predominant B-cell (Hodgkin) lymphoma (NLPBL).

METHODS

This retrospective, population-based study included consecutive patients ≥ 18 years old who received BR for NLPBL in Alberta, Canada.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 23 patients with a median age of 39 years (range 18-74) who received BR for treatment-naive (n = 17) or relapsed/refractory (n = 6) NLPBL. Advanced stage disease was present in 18 (78%), splenic involvement in 9 (39%), and bone marrow involvement in 8 (35%) patients. The response rate to BR was 100%, with a complete response in 78% and a partial response in 22%. After a median follow-up of 4.3 years (range 0.8-9.0), the 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 83% (95% CI: 55%-94%) and 87% (95% CI: 58%-97%) for all patients and 84% (95% CI: 50%-96%) and 91% (95% CI: 51%-99%) for recipients of first-line BR, respectively. The safety profile was in keeping with the known toxicities of BR, with the most common adverse events consisting of neutropenia, rash, and infusion reactions.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that BR is a promising treatment option for NLPBL, with a favorable efficacy and safety profile.