FM (chemotherapy)

FM in the context of chemotherapy means a chemotherapy regimen used as first-line therapy in indolent lymphomas. In combination with rituximab it is called R-FM or RFM or FM-R or FMR.

The [R]-FM regimen consists of:

(R)ituximab - an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that is able to kill both normal B cells and malignant ones;
(F)ludarabine - an antimetabolite;
(M)itoxantrone - a synthetic anthracycline analogue (an anthraquinone) that is able to intercalate DNA and prevent mitosis.^[1]

This regimen is also sometimes used in some autoimmune disorders that are inherently sensitive to rituximab, fludarabine and mitoxantrone in monotherapies (e.g. multiple sclerosis).

Dosing regimen[edit]

Drug	Dose	Mode	Days
(R)ituximab	375 mg/m²	IV infusion	Day 1
(F)ludarabine	25 mg/m²	IV infusion	Days 1-3
(M)itoxantrone	10 mg/m²	IV infusion	Day 1

References[edit]

^ Fludarabine Plus Mitoxantrone With and Without Rituximab Versus CHOP With and Without Rituximab As Front-Line Treatment for Patients With Follicular Lymphoma

[1] Fludarabine Plus Mitoxantrone With and Without Rituximab Versus CHOP With and Without Rituximab As Front-Line Treatment for Patients With Follicular Lymphoma

[1]