Lenalidomide-rituximab or lenalidomide-rituximabbendamustine for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: primary and final analysis of the randomized phase II HOVON110/ReBeL study.

What was studied

This trial tested 2 plans for follicular lymphoma that came back or did not respond. R2 is lenalidomide plus rituximab. R2B adds bendamustine. People were assigned by chance to R2 or R2B. The trial did not compare the arms head-on. Those with partial or complete remission took rituximab maintenance for 2 years. Main goals were complete response at end of induction and severe toxicity.

What they found

92 people were randomized. The trial stopped early because accrual was slow. At end of induction, complete response rates were low in both arms. Median follow-up was 74 months. Severe toxicity was more frequent with R2B. Pneumonia-related deaths occurred in the R2 arm only. Event-free survival at 60 months was higher with R2B. So was overall survival. Grade 3-4 adverse events were more frequent with R2B.

What it means for patients

The team says both regimens are effective in this lymphoma. Scan-based complete response rates were low. R2B gave numerically longer median event-free and overall survival. This came with higher toxicity.

Why it is not certain yet

The trial stopped early due to slow accrual. It was not designed to compare the 2 arms. Differences were numerical. The trial ran in several countries.

Source

Lenalidomide-rituximab or lenalidomide-rituximabbendamustine for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: primary and final analysis of the randomized phase II HOVON110/ReBeL study.

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