Bendamustine in combination with rituximab for elderly patients with previously untreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A retrospective analysis of real-life practice in Italian hematology departments

摘要

The front-line therapy for CLL young and fit patients is chemo-immunotherapy with fludarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab (FCR). FCR regimen results in a significant myelosuppression and high rates of early and late infections especially in elderly patients. German CLL study group compared FCR vs. bendamustine-rituximab (BR) in fit untreated patients. The response rates with BR or FCR were comparable, BR could be an alternative 1st-line treatment for elderly patients.