Medical Use And Study Of Bendamustine
Bendamustine is an anti-cancer chemotherapy medicine that is classified as an alkylating agent. It is approved by the FDA for the treatment of individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and indolent (slow-growing) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within 6-months of treatment with rituximab (Rituxan) or a rituximab-containing regimen. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a kind of indolent B-cell NHL. The medicine bendamustine hydrochloride combined with the monoclonal antibody rituximab is one of four therapy regimens preferred by the WM experts. While the combination regimen bendamustine/rituximab is preferred, using bendamustine alone is prescribed for individuals who cannot take rituximab. These are a couple of protocols: bendamustine along with rituximab, and bendamustine alone for patients who are rituximab-intolerant; are preferred regimens for both initial (also named first-line or primary) treatment of WM, as well as for earlier treat