Combination Chemo, Rituximab, and Bevacizumab in Older Patients With Stage II-IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This phase II trial is studying how well giving combination chemotherapy together with
rituximab and bevacizumab works in treating older patients with stage II, stage III, or stage
IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop
the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more cancer cells. Monoclonal
antibodies, such as rituximab and bevacizumab, can block cancer growth in different ways.
Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help
kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of
cancer cells by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Giving combination chemotherapy together
with monoclonal antibodies may kill more cancer cells.