Phase II Study of Bendamustine and Ofatumumab in Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Who Are Poor Candidates for R-CHOP Chemotherapy.

Lessons Learned: The combination of ofatumumab and bendamustine in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma demonstrated modest efficacy compared with standard of care.The poor response may have been due to patient age and the high rate of treatment discontinuation.

Background: This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of bendamustine and ofatumumab in elderly patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were not candidates for rituximab cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP).

Cutaneous CD4+ CD56+ hematologic malignancies.

Background: Hematologic malignancies expressing CD4 and CD56 are most commonly associated with the recently described CD4(+) CD56(+) hematodermic neoplasm.

Methods: Thirteen cases of CD4(+) CD56(+) hematologic malignancies were prospectively encountered in the routine and referral practices of the authors.

Results: Patients 1 and 2 were elderly men exhibiting an acute onset of skin, bone-marrow, and peripheral blood involvement, both dying of their disease within less than 12 months.

New targets of therapy in T-cell lymphomas.

T-cell lymphomas (TCL) are characterized by poor response to chemotherapy and generally poor outcome. While molecular profiling has identified distinct biological subsets and therapeutic targets in B-cell lymphomas, the molecular characterization of TCL has been slower. Surface markers expressed on malignant T-cells, such as CD2, CD3, CD4, CD25, and CD52 were the first TCL-specific therapeutic targets to be discovered.