Conditions: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Lymphoma, Diffuse Large-Cell Diffuse Large-Cell Lymphoma Lymphoma
Keywords: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Elderly Newly Diagnosed Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of North Carolina Bendamustine Rituximab Rituxan Treanda Phase 2 Geriatric Lymphoma
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 23
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this research study is to learn about the safety of the treatment with a combination of bendamustine and rituximab and to find out what effects, both good and bad this treatment has on DLBCL. In addition to learning about the combination of bendamustine and rituximab, the researchers are interested in learning about how this cancer treatment affects daily activities. Subjects will be asked to complete a Geriatric Assessment (GA). GAs are designed to gather information on memory, nutritional status, mental health, and level of social support. GAs are also designed to help the health care team understand how well subjects can carry out their day to day activities and to briefly describe what other medical conditions subjects may have. This assessment will help the health care team understand a subject's "functional age" (the age a subject functions at) as compared to a subject's actual age.

The researchers also want to learn how chemotherapy affects the aging process in our bodies. This is done by measuring the amount of p16 in blood. Researchers want to understand if chemotherapy changes the levels of p16 in blood.

Detailed description:
This multicenter Phase II clinical study will investigate the complete response (CR) rate after therapy with bendamustine combined with rituximab in older (≥65 years old) patients with previously untreated stage II-IV DLBCL deemed poor candidates for cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine (Oncovin®), prednisone, rituximab (CHOP-R); n=37. The hypothesis being tested is that this regimen will be safe and effective as frontline therapy in older DLBCL patients deemed poor candidates for CHOP-R. After 3 cycles of therapy, patients with less than a partial response (PR) will come off study, and be managed at the discretion of their treating physician. Patients who achieve a PR after 3 cycles will continue for a total of 8 cycles of therapy, while patients who achieve a CR will continue for a total of 6 cycles of therapy. Secondary objectives include overall response rates (ORR), disease-free, progression-free and overall survival, and an evaluation of the toxicity and tolerability of the regimen.

This trial also includes an exploratory analysis designed to evaluate a potential correlation between expression of the senescence marker p16INK4a and the toxicity associated with this regimen.

In addition, patients will be asked to participate in a Geriatric Assessment (GA) tool during the trial.

Arms:
arm 1: This is a single arm intervention where patients will receive bendamustine at a dose of 120 mg/m\^2 infused over 60 minutes in days 1 and 2 of each 21 day cycle along with rituximab 375 mg/m\^2 after bendamustine on day 1 of each cycle. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of 3 at baseline were allowed to receive bendamustine at a dose of 90 mg/m\^2 daily with a dose increase to 120 mg/m\^2 daily if their ECOG improved.

Interventions: intervention 1: Bendamustine intervention 2: Rituximab
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Dosage Form: Intravenous (60 minute infusion) Dosage: 120mg/m2 (ECOG = 0-2) or 90mg/m2 (ECOG = 3) Frequency: Day 1 and Day 2; Every 3 weeks of a 21 day cycle. Duration: 3-6 Cycles intervention 2: Dosage form: Intravenous Dosage: 375 mg/m2 Frequency: Day 1 of every 3 weeks of a 21 day Cycle Duration: 3-6 Cycles

Protocol document: