Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.
BEND+OBIN
Regimen is considered appropriate as part of the standard care of patients; meaningfully improves outcomes (survival, quality of life), tolerability or costs compared to alternatives (recommended by the Disease Site Team and national consensus body e.g. pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review, pCODR). Recommendation is based on an appropriately conducted phase III clinical trial relevant to the Canadian context OR (where phase III trials are not feasible) an appropriately sized phase II trial. Regimens where one or more drugs are not approved by Health Canada for any indication will be identified under Rationale and Use.
For the treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma† whose disease is refractory* to a rituximab-containing regimen and has a good performance status
† indolent lymphoma histologies other than follicular lymphoma (excluding CLL and mantle cell lymphoma) may be eligible for obinutuzumab funding (refer to NDFP form)
* no response to OR progression during or within 6 months after rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen
oBINutuzumab
New Drug Funding Program
(Obinutuzumab - In Combination with Chemotherapy for Refractory Follicular Lymphoma)
bendamustine
New Drug Funding Program
(Bendamustine - Relapsed_Refractory - Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma)
Induction (BEND+OBIN):
Cycle 1:
| oBINutuzumab | 1000* mg | IV | Days 1, 8 and 15 |
| bendamustine | 90 mg /m² | IV | Days 1 & 2 |
|
Cycles 2-6: |
|||
| oBINutuzumab | 1000* mg | IV | Day 1 |
| bendamustine | 90 mg /m² | IV | Days 1 & 2 |
*For obinutuzumab maintenance use, report as regimen OBIN(MNT) after BEND+OBIN induction.
Induction: REPEAT EVERY 28 DAYS for up to 6 cycles unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (see NDFP form)
For patients who responded to or have stable disease after induction therapy, refer to maintenance obinutuzumab regimen - OBIN(MNT).
Moderate
- Also refer to CCO Antiemetic Recommendations.
Screen for hepatitis B virus in all cancer patients starting systemic treatment. Refer to the hepatitis B virus screening and management guideline.
Patients at risk of tumour lysis syndrome should have appropriate prophylaxis and be monitored closely.
Hypertension should be controlled prior to starting treatment.
Obinutuzumab:
Patients at risk for tumour lysis syndrome should receive adequate hydration and uricostatics or alternative starting 12 to 24 hours prior to infusion.
Consider withholding antihypertensives (if applicable) 12 hours prior to infusion, during infusion and for the first hour after drug administration, and withholding concomitant medications that increase bleeding risk, especially in the first cycle.
Patients with neutropenia should receive antimicrobial prophylaxis; consider use of G-CSF, antiviral and antifungal prophylaxis.
Premedication recommendations:
|
Treatment cycle, day |
Patients |
Premedication |
|
Cycle 1, Day 1 |
All |
IV corticosteroid* completed at least 1 hr prior to infusion & PO analgesic/antipyretic** & antihistamine*** at least 30 min prior to infusion |
|
Subsequent infusions |
Patients with no prior IR during previous infusion |
PO analgesic/antipyretic** at least 30 min prior to infusion |
|
|
Patients with grade 1 or 2 IR with previous infusion |
PO analgesic/antipyretic** & antihistamine*** at least 30 min prior to infusion |
|
|
Patients with grade 3 IR with previous infusion OR patients with lymphocyte counts > 25 x 109/L prior to next treatment |
IV corticosteroid* completed at least 1 hr prior to infusion & PO analgesic/antipyretic** & antihistamine*** at least 30 min prior to infusion |
*e.g. 100 mg prednisone or 20 mg dexamethasone. Hydrocortisone should not be used as it has not been effective in reducing IR rates.
**e.g. 1000 mg acetaminophen
***e.g. 50 mg diphenhydramine
Bendamustine-only days:
- Consider pre-medication for patients with Grade 1 or 2 reactions with prior infusion
- Analgesic/antipyretic (e.g. acetaminophen), corticosteroid and an antihistamine (e.g. diphenhydramine) should be considered in subsequent cycles.
Doses should be modified according to the protocol by which the patient is being treated.
Dosage with toxicity
No dose reductions are recommended for obinutuzumab. The infusion may be discontinued, held or its rate reduced as described in the table below.
Dose levels for bendamustine: 90 mg/m2, 60 mg/m2. Do not re-escalate after reduction for toxicity.
Do not treat until ANC and hemoglobin ≤ grade 2, platelets and non-hematologic toxicity ≤ grade 1.
|
Toxicity |
Obinutuzumab dose |
Bendamustine dose |
|
Grade 4 hematologic, febrile neutropenia, bleeding |
Hold* until ≤ grade 2, restart at usual dose. Discontinue if no recovery within 4 weeks.
|
Hold* until ≤ grade 2, consider G-CSF and prophylactic antibiotics. Consider dose modification. Discontinue if no recovery within 4 weeks. |
|
Grade 2 or 3 related organ/non-hematologic toxicity |
Hold* until ≤ grade 1. Discontinue if no recovery within 4 weeks. |
Hold* until ≤ grade 1, then restart at 1 dose level reduction for grade 3. Discontinue if no recovery within 4 weeks. |
|
Grade 4 related organ/non-hematologic toxicity |
Discontinue |
|
|
Viral hepatitis or other serious infections; reactivation of hepatitis B |
Discontinue |
|
|
Suspected PML |
Hold and refer to neurologist for diagnosis and treatment. Discontinue if confirmed. |
|
|
Grade 1-2 infusion reaction (IR) |
Reduce infusion rate and treat symptoms. Restart once resolved. Escalate infusion rate as tolerated at increments appropriate for treatment dose (see administration section). |
If related to bendamustine, hold or slow infusion; premedicate before re-challenge and subsequent cycles. |
|
Grade 3 IR |
Hold infusion and treat symptoms. Restart once resolved at no more than half the previous rate. Escalate infusion rate as tolerated at increments appropriate for treatment dose (see administration section). |
If related to bendamustine, discontinue. |
|
Grade 4 IR, 2nd episode of grade 3 IR (during same or subsequent infusion), acute life-threatening respiratory symptoms OR Anaphylaxis or serum sickness |
Discontinue |
Discontinue |
*Hold up to 4 weeks until major organ toxicities recover to ≤ grade 1 (or as specified in table), platelets ≥ 75 x 109/L and ANC ≥ 1 x 109/L
Hepatic Impairment
For obinutuzumab, safety and efficacy have not been established in patients with hepatic impairment.
For bendamustine:
| Bilirubin | AST or ALT or ALP | Bendamustine dose | |
| ≤ 1.5 x ULN | OR | ≤ 2.5 x ULN | Caution |
| > 1.5 x ULN | OR | > 2.5 x ULN | Do not use |
Renal Impairment
For obinutuzumab, patients who have a creatinine clearance < 50mL/min in the pivotal study experienced more serious adverse events, including fatal ones, than those with creatinine ≥ 50 mL/min.
|
Creatinine Clearance (mL/min)
|
Obinutuzumab Dose |
Bendamustine Dose |
|
> 50
|
No dose adjustment
|
Use with caution |
|
30-50
|
No dose adjustment; use with caution
|
Use with caution |
|
<30
|
No data
|
Do not use |
Dosage in the Elderly
No dose adjustment is required for either obinutuzumab or bendamustine. Patients ≥ 65 years experienced more serious adverse events than younger patients. No efficacy differences were observed between older and younger patients.
Refer to oBINutuzumab, bendamustine drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects.
|
Very common (≥ 50%) |
Common (25-49%) |
Less common (10-24%) |
Uncommon (< 10%), but may be severe or life-threatening |
|
|
|
|
Refer to oBINutuzumab, bendamustine, drug monograph(s) for additional details.
- No clinical drug interaction studies have been conducted with obinutuzumab or bendamustine
- Use with caution with CYP1A2 inhibitors and inducers (may alter bendamustine metabolism)
- Use with caution and monitor closely for infections when given with other immunosuppressive drugs.
Refer to oBINutuzumab, bendamustine drug monograph(s) for additional details.
Administration: obinutuzumab
|
Treatment cycle |
Obinutuzumab dose |
Infusion rate* |
|
Cycle 1, day 1 |
1000 mg |
50 mg/hr. May escalate as tolerated by 50 mg/hr q30 min to max of 400 mg/hr. |
|
Cycle 1, days 8 & 15; Cycles 2-6, day 1 |
1000 mg |
100 mg/hr if IR ≤ grade 1 at rates ≥ 100mg/hr on day 1. May escalate as tolerated by 100 mg/hr q30 min to max of 400 mg/hr. 50 mg/hr if previous grade grade 2 or 3 IR. May escalate as tolerated by 50 mg/hr q30 min to max of 400 mg/hr.
|
*For infusion rate modifications in the case of IR, see dosage with toxicity section
- Obinutuzumab should be administered only as an IV infusion through a dedicated line. Do not administer as an IV push or bolus.
- Withdraw required amount of diluent from vial and dilute in 250 ml PVC or non-PVC polyolefin bags containing 0.9% sodium chloride. See product monograph for details.
- Gently invert the IV bag to mix. Do not shake.
- If a planned dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible; do not wait until the next planned dose. The planned treatment interval should then be maintained between doses.
- Compatible with sodium chloride 0.9%. Do not mix with other IV solutions.
- Also compatible with the following IV bags and sets:
- polyethylene, polypropylene bags
- PVC, polyurethane or polyethylene infusion sets
- polyetherurethane catheters
- optional inline filters with polyethersulfon product contact surfaces
- 3-way stopcock infusion aid made from polycarbonate
Administration: bendamustine
- Infuse over 60 minutes
- Bendamustine infusions should be administered in a setting where full resuscitation facilities are immediately available, and under the close supervision of someone experienced and capable of dealing with severe infusion-related reactions.
- DO NOT administer as an IV push or bolus.
- Dilute to a final concentration of 0.2 - 0.6 mg/mL in 500 mL infusion bag of 0.9% sodium chloride or 2.5% dextrose/0.45% sodium chloride.
- Reconstituted solution must be transferred to infusion bag within 30 minutes of reconstitution.
- Administer bendamustine through a dedicated line.
- Compatible with PVC or polyethylene bags.
- Do not admix with other drugs.
Contraindications:
- Patients who have a hypersensitivity to these drugs or any of their components, including mannitol
- Patients with serious infections
Warnings/precautions:
- Do not give to patients who have an active infection.
- Avoid live and live-attenuated vaccines during treatment and until B-cell recovery. Following vaccination, do not start treatment until protective antibody titres have been reached.
- Use with extreme caution in patients who are positive for hepatitis.
- Use with caution in patients with a history of recurring or chronic infections.
- Patients with a history of cardiovascular or respiratory disease should be monitored closely during and after infusions. Use caution when hydrating patients with history of cardiovascular disease, to prevent fluid overload.
- Use with caution in patients with hypertension. Patients at acute risk of hypertensive crisis should be assessed for the risk vs benefit of withholding anti-hypertensives
- Use bendamustine with caution in patients with mild renal and hepatic impairment.
Pregnancy & lactation:
- This regimen is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Adequate contraception should be used by patients and their partners while on treatment and after the last treatment dose. Recommended methods and duration of contraception may differ depending on the treatment. Refer to the drug monograph(s) for more information.
- Breastfeeding is not recommended during this treatment and after the last treatment dose. Refer to the drug monograph(s) for recommendations after the last treatment dose (if available).
- Fertility effects:
Bendamustine: Yes
Obinutuzumab: Unknown
Treating physicians may decide to monitor more or less frequently for individual patients but should always consider recommendations from the product monograph.
Refer to the hepatitis B virus screening and management guideline for monitoring during and after treatment.
Recommended Clinical Monitoring
- Cardiac tests for all patients with cardiac risk factors; Baseline and as clinically indicated
- CBC; Baseline, before each dose and as clinically indicated following treatment completion
- Liver and renal function tests; Baseline and prior to each cycle
- Blood pressure; Baseline and regular
- Electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium and uric acid; Baseline and regular
- Infusion-related reactions; during and after the infusion
- Clinical toxicity assessment for tumour lysis syndrome, hypersensitivity, infection, bleeding, thromboembolism, respiratory, neurologic, GI, skin and cardiac effects; At each visit
-
Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
Suggested Clinical Monitoring
- Blood glucose; Baseline and periodic
- CMV testing in febrile patients; As clinically indicated
- HIV status; Baseline
back to top
Bendamustine drug monograph. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).
Cheson BD, Chua N, Mayer J, et al. Overall survival benefit in patients with rituximab-refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma who received obinutuzumab plus bendamustine induction and obinutuzumab maintenance in the GADOLIN study. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Aug 1;36(22):2259-66.
Obinutuzumab drug monograph. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).
Sehn LH, Chua N, Mayer J, et al. Obinutuzumab plus bendamustine versus bendamustine monotherapy in patients with rituximab-refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (GADOLIN): a randomised, controlled, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Aug;17(8):1081-93.
November 2024 Updated Premedication and Supportive Measures, Dose Modifications, and Pregnancy and Lactation sections
Regimen Abstracts
A Regimen Abstract is an abbreviated version of a Regimen Monograph and contains only top level information on usage, dosing, schedule, cycle length and special notes (if available). It is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice, and all uses of the Regimen Abstract are subject to clinical judgment. Such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability, and Cancer Care Ontario disclaims all liability for the use of this information, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits that arise from such use.
Information in regimen abstracts is accurate to the extent of the ST-QBP regimen master listings, and has not undergone the full review process of a regimen monograph. Full regimen monographs will be published for each ST-QBP regimen as they are developed.
Regimen Monographs
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
CCO and the Formulary’s content providers shall have no liability, whether direct, indirect, consequential, contingent, special, or incidental, related to or arising from the information in the Formulary or its use thereof, whether based on breach of contract or tort (including negligence), and even if advised of the possibility thereof. Anyone using the information in the Formulary does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information, agrees to indemnify CCO and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person’s use of the information in the Formulary.