Rituximab and Bendamustine for First-Line Treatment of Frail or Elderly Patients with Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma: Final Results of the Prospective Phase-II Brenda Trial of GLA (German Lymphoma Alliance)

Introduction For patients (pts) with aggressive B-cell lymphoma immunochemotherapy with R-CHOP (Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone) represents the standard of care with curative intention. For elderly pts a dose-reduced R-mini-CHOP protocol is feasible. No standard of care exists for frail or very old (>80 yrs) pts not eligible for CHOP-like treatment. Here we present the final results of the prospective DSHNHL-phase-2 trial for old or frail pts receiving Rituximab/Bendamustine (RB) for 1st-line treatment of aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Our goal was to determine feasibility, toxicity of the BR regimen in this pt cohort, and to determine which pts groups might potentially benefit from this reduced-intensity approach. Methods The open-label, multicenter, prospective, non-randomized phase-II trial “Subcutaneous Rituximab and Intravenous Bendamustine in very Elderly Patients or Elderly Medically Non Fit Patients (”Slow Go“) with Aggressive CD20-positive B-cell Lymphoma” (B-R-ENDA, DSHNHL 2010-1, EudraCT 2010-024004-98) included all pts aged ≥81 yrs or 61-80 yrs and elevated CIRS >6, not qualifying for R- CHOP, with histologically confirmed CD20+aggressive lymphoma of any Ann Arbor-stage and IPI score, and ECOG 80 yr cohort), and treatment-associated deaths, frequency of grade 3/4 adverse events and SAEs, adherence to the protocol, complete and partial remission rate, rate of primary progression and relapse, and quality of life assessed by geriatric assessment and EORTC-QLQ-C30 for feasibility. Results: From 2012 to 2016, 68 pts (22 male, 46 female) were recruited in 24 centers into the trial and included into this intent-to-treat analysis (ITT). The median age was 81 yrs with 21% of pts older than 85 yrs. The median CIRS score was 8 and 72% had a CIRS >6. The IPI was >2 in 59% of pts. The patient population was per protocol