Is bendamustine chemotherapy or immunotherapy?
Bendamustine is a type of chemotherapy drug called an alkylating agent.
How is bendamustine and rituximab administered?
Bendamustine + Rituximab is usually given in an outpatient infusion center, allowing the person to go home afterwards. On occasion, it may be given in the hospital if someone is too sick for outpatient treatment. Bendamustine + Rituximab is repeated every 28 days. This is known as one Cycle.
Does bendamustine cause secondary malignancy?
Given that bendamustine induces dose-dependent DNA damage (Beeharry, et al 2012), we hypothesized that it could be associated with secondary malignancies. We found that roughly 6-11% of patients had developed MDS/AML within the maximum follow-up years after receiving bendamustine by cumulative incidence risk method.
How effective is RITUXAN for follicular lymphoma?
In one study of patients with follicular lymphoma who received RITUXAN maintenance therapy (after responding to initial RITUXAN therapy plus chemotherapy), patients cut the risk of their disease advancing by almost half (46%) compared with patients who did not receive additional treatment after initial therapy.
Is Rituxan considered immunotherapy?
Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody medication. It’s also considered a type of immunotherapy, meaning it helps turn the immune system against cancer. It works by identifying and labeling certain white blood cells (B cells) for destruction by the body’s immune system.
How is bendamustine given?
How Bendamustine Is Given: As an injection into the vein (intravenous, IV). There is no pill form of Bendamustine. The amount of Bendamustine that you will receive depends on many factors, including your height and weight, your general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer or condition being treated.
What are the long term effects of bendamustine?
This medicine may increase your risk of developing a serious and rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Check with your doctor if you have weakness on one side of the body, clumsiness, blurred vision, changes in thinking, memory problems, confusion, or personality changes.
What are the side effects of bendamustine?
Common side effects
- Increased risk of getting an infection.
- Breathlessness and looking pale.
- Bruising, bleeding gums or nosebleeds.
- Feeling or being sick.
- Skin rash.
- Tiredness and weakness.
- Loss of fertility.
- Sore mouth.
Can RITUXAN cure follicular lymphoma?
Your follicular lymphoma journey begins with initial treatment. As initial treatment—RITUXAN, with CVP chemotherapy, may be given to treat follicular lymphoma. These drugs work together in different ways to fight cancer. The goal in using this combination of drugs is to keep your cancer from getting worse.
Can bendamustine cause lung damage?
Lung nodules are not commonly found after Bendeka and Rituxan therapy. Rarely, interstitial lung disease has been reported with rituximab treatment, and in a couple of cases people were taking bendamustine (Bendeka) as well. Lung nodules are commonly found during routine x-rays, showing up on one in every 500 x-rays.