Bendamustine combined with rituximab induces pyroptosis to shape an "immunologically hot" tumor microenvironment in DLBCL cells via the STING pathway

Bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) therapy has demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in the treatment of DLBCL patients who are intolerant to R-CHOP therapy. In vitro, BR therapy exhibits a synergistic cytotoxic effect on DLBCL cell lines. Mechanistically, BR induces pyroptosis in DLBCL cells by activating the cGAS-STING pathway, leading to the release of inflammatory factors and the formation of an "immunologically hot" microenvironment. Additionally, BR therapy upregulates MHC molecules on the tumor cell surface, thereby augmenting T cell activation and function.