Betamustine - any experience?

[Guest guest]

I have recently relapsed and my md is suggesting rituxan and betamustine -- what

do people know about this?

I had a 7 year remission with rituxan and fludarabine Part of the rationale for

the betamustine regimen may be that they both cross blood/brain barrier - there

is a suspicion of CLL-related brain tumors which caused seizures earlier on. On

MRI, the first (enhancing) lesion disappeared, then there was another

(non-enhancing) on the other side of my brain. But too dangerous to biopsy due

to location, super small size and very low platelets. The doctors ruled out PML

(thank heaven!) but are still thinking virual etiology.

I have read that betamustine with rituxan is pretty effective, and has a

relatively low toxicity. Does anyone know anything??

I would love some input from you all about any experience/hearsay about this

newly approved betamustine (Treanda?)

Thanks!!

Marietta

CLL/SLL Dx 2002 at age 46, treated with rituxan and fludarabine - a few oddball

infections over past 7 years and recent brain lesions may or may not be related

[Guest guest]

Marietta - I do not know exact stats but I hear that Bendamustine + R works pretty well and is well tolerated. Be sure to take it with R, not alone. As you know, Bendamustine is an old alkylating agent with a 20 year history. With R it seems to be doing OK.

In a message dated 2/13/2010 1:18:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, mbrill100@... writes:

I have recently relapsed and my md is suggesting rituxan and betamustine -- what do people know about this?I had a 7 year remission with rituxan and fludarabine Part of the rationale for the betamustine regimen may be that they both cross blood/brain barrier - there is a suspicion of CLL-related brain tumors which caused seizures earlier on. On MRI, the first (enhancing) lesion disappeared, then there was another (non-enhancing) on the other side of my brain. But too dangerous to biopsy due to location, super small size and very low platelets. The doctors ruled out PML (thank heaven!) but are still thinking virual etiology.I have read that betamustine with rituxan is pretty effective, and has a relatively low toxicity. Does anyone know anything??I would love some input from you all about any experience/hearsay about this newly approved betamustine (Treanda?)Thanks!!MariettaCLL/SLL Dx 2002 at age 46, treated with rituxan and fludarabine - a few oddball infections over past 7 years and recent brain lesions may or may not be related

[Guest guest]

Marietta,

It would be extremely unusual for CLL to cross into the brain. If it were CLL,

it would not be a good idea to rely upon bendamustine (Treanda) to treat it as

we do not have any data regarding bendamustine at treating CNS disease. If

there really is CLL in the brain, then appropriate therapy should be given.

Rick Furman, MD

>

> I have recently relapsed and my md is suggesting rituxan and betamustine --

what do people know about this?

>

> I had a 7 year remission with rituxan and fludarabine Part of the rationale

for the betamustine regimen may be that they both cross blood/brain barrier -

there is a suspicion of CLL-related brain tumors which caused seizures earlier

on. On MRI, the first (enhancing) lesion disappeared, then there was another

(non-enhancing) on the other side of my brain. But too dangerous to biopsy due

to location, super small size and very low platelets. The doctors ruled out PML

(thank heaven!) but are still thinking virual etiology.

>

> I have read that betamustine with rituxan is pretty effective, and has a

relatively low toxicity. Does anyone know anything??

>

> I would love some input from you all about any experience/hearsay about this

newly approved betamustine (Treanda?)

>

> Thanks!!

> Marietta

> CLL/SLL Dx 2002 at age 46, treated with rituxan and fludarabine - a few

oddball infections over past 7 years and recent brain lesions may or may not be

related

>