Efficacy of Bendamustine in treating Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Bendamustine hydrochloride is a cytotoxic anti-cancer medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of first line chronic lymphocytic leukemia and relapsed non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. It works by interefering with the cell replication by the double stranded DNA and cross linking single DNA.
Bendamustine (Brand Treanda) is an alkylating agent whose structure bears similarities to chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide and other medications from the class of nitrogen mustard. It is also similar to a benzimidazole ring which acts as an antagonist to amino acid and purines.
Bendamustine / Treanda Cost Information
Bendamustine Mechanism of Action – Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most commonly diagnosed form of leukemia in North America and Europe. It is estimated that there are more than 15,600 new cases of CLL diagnosed every year. It is also estimated that the causality rate from CLL is over 4500 deaths annually.
The 5 year survival year of CLL patients is estimated to be approximately 82%. In the clinical courses of patients with CLL, it was found that some patients experienced rapid progression of the disease while other's survival time improved without requiring treatment.
As of March of 2008, Bendamustine hydrochloride (Brand Treanda) was approved for the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. For this approval, the FDA reviewed the efficacy of Bendamustine vs chlorambucil as first-line treatment for previously untreated patients with advanced CLL on the basis of randomized parallel groups, open label multi-centre trials.
The patients were assigned to be treated with either 100 mg / m2 injection IV of bendamustine on day 1 & 2 for every 4 weeks or 0.8 mg / kg oral of chlorambucil on day 1 & 15 for every 4 week treatment cycle. The patients were assigned these medications on a random basis for accurate results. This treatment cycle was repeated 6 times for every patient. A majority of patients in either groups had immunophenotypic confirmation of CLL.
The overall response rate in patients treated with bendamustine was higher when compared to patients treated with chlorambucil.
The median PFS (time from randomization of assigning patients to progression or death from any cause) was found to be 18 months for bendamustine and 6 months for chlorambucil.
Bendamustine Mechanism of Action – non-Hodgkin Leukemia
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or NHL is a type of cancer that forms in the white blood cells known as lymphocytes which are a part of the immune system.
NHL is more commonly diagnosed that other types of lymphoma. Different sub-types of NHL also exist like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or follicular lymphoma. Early diagnosis and treatment of NHL may improve prognosis for the patients.
As of October 31st of 2008, Bendamustine hydrochloride (Brand Treanda) was approved for the treatment of indolent B-cell NHL. For this approval, the FDA reviewed the efficacy of Bendamustine through the results of a hundred patients who were treated with rituximab. The 19 patients included from this study had relapsed within 6 months of receiving the first dose or the last dose of rituximab. Those patients were treated with 60-120 minutes of 120 mg / m2 of bendamustine injection IV on day 1 & 2 for every 3 weeks treatment cycle. This treatment cycle was repeated up to 8 times for every patient. About 2/3 of the patients had the advanced stage of NHL at the time of the enrolment in the trial.
The overall response rate in patients treated with bendamustine was 74%.
Single agents bendamustine was founded to more durable responses that lasted for median of 9.2 months.
Bendamustine / Treanda side effects
Some Bendamustine side effects include:
• liver problems, signs: pain in upper stomach, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, itchiness, tiredness,
• coughing, chest pains and/or difficulty in breathing
• pain or a burning sensation while urinating
• continuing nausea, diarrhoea and/or vomiting
• itchiness, chills and/or fever during or after receiving an injection
• low blood cell count, signs: skin sores, mouth sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin and/or fever
• tumour cell breakdown, signs: fluttering in chest, faster or slower heartbeat, confusion, tingling in hands, feet & mouth, vomiting and/or diarrhoea
Some of the more common side effects include:
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• skin rash that is mild
• swelling in hands and feet
• tiredness, dizziness and/or headaches
• vomiting, nausea, constipation and/or diarrhoea
• coughing, mouth sores, fever, trouble breathing
Bendamustine Cost Information
The information provided on the page is meant for the purpose of being helpful and educational. It should not be considered as medical advice.
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