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Original Article: Clinical

Pentostatin, cyclophosphamide and rituximab is a safe and effective treatment in patients with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia

, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 97-102 | Received 21 Feb 2014, Accepted 30 Mar 2014, Published online: 25 Jun 2014
 

Abstract

Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent lym phomaand is responsive to therapy regimens containing alkylating agents, purine analogs and rituximab if treatment becomes necessary. We initiated a multicenter phase II trial to determine the safety and efficacy of a regimen containing pentostatin, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (PER) in patients with WM. Between May 2005 and December 2010, 25 patients with WM were included in the study. Twenty-one patients received PER as first-line therapy. In these patients, 2-year progression-free survival was 83.6% and 2-year overall survival was 100%. Thirteen patients (52%) received R maintenance therapy. In these patients, the 2-year progression-free survival was 91.67% and 2-year overall survival was 100%. We have provided evidence that PER is a safe and effective regimen for WM. Although R maintenance therapy after PER seemed to induce a better long-term outcome, this study was not powered to address this issue.

Potential conflict of interest

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