Multicenter Phase 2 Study of Reduced-Dose CHOP Chemotherapy Combined With Rituximab for Elderly Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in very elderly patients: Towards best tailored treatment - A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Diffuse large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is a potentially curative lymphoma with increasing incidence with ageing. Treatment of elderly DLBCL patients represents a particular challenge due to their comorbidities and performance status.

METHODS

A search for original articles focused on the treatment of elderly DLBCL patients was performed in PubMed database and 633 were found and reviewed. Thirty-eight studies meeting our inclusion criteria were published since 2007.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were retrospective and 25 phase II/III clinical trials. Most of them investigated the efficacy of dose-adjusted R-CHOP regimen. Alternative therapeutic drugs together with geriatric assessment were also evaluated. For fit patients aged 80 and over, the strongest evidence favours R-miniCHOP regimen.

CONCLUSION

A dose-adjusted R-CHOP may be the recommended treatment in elderly DLBCL patients. New tools such as the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment provide useful guidance for treatment choice, based on comorbidities and frailty index of this group.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes among 2347 patients aged ≥85 years with major lymphoma subtypes: a Nordic Lymphoma Group study

There is a lack of data regarding treatment and prognosis for the growing group of oldest old patients with lymphoma. Therefore, we studied 2347 patients aged ≥85 years from the Danish and Swedish lymphoma registers 2000–2016 (Denmark) and 2007–2013 (Sweden). Outcome was assessed using relative survival (RS). The 2‐year RS overall for patients with aggressive lymphomas was 38% [95% confidence interval (CI) 35–42%], of whom 845 (66%) patients received active treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, other). For aggressive lymphomas, not receiving active treatment was associated with an inferior 2‐year RS of 12% (95% CI 9–17%) compared to 49% (95% CI 45–53%) for patients who received active treatment (excess mortality rate ratio 2·84, 95% CI 2·3–3·5; P < 0·0001). For patients with indolent lymphoma, the 2‐year RS was 77% (95% CI 72–82%). Here, 383 (46%) patients received active treatment at diagnosis, but did not have better 2‐year RS (75%, 95% CI 67–81%) compared to those who did not receive active treatment (83%, 95% CI 74–89%). We conclude that outcomes for the oldest old patients with lymphoma are encouraging for several subtypes and that active treatment is associated with improved outcome amongst the oldest old patients with aggressive lymphomas, indicating that age itself should not be a contraindication to treatment.