A Retrospective Analysis of Outcomes of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) in the Elder Patients in China
Authors: Liu Peng , Han Ying , Yang Jianliang , He Xiaohui , Zhang Changgong , Zhou Shengyu , Qin Yan , Zhou Liqiang , Yongwen Song , Han Ming-Zhe , Sun Yan , Shi Yuankai 
Published: October 2019

Background: Elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have a worse prognosis compared to the younger population, since older age is associated with comorbidity and suboptimal performance status leading to intolerance of chemo-immunotherapy. The outcome of DLBCL in the older patients (> 60 years) was well described in clinical trials with reported 5-year overall survival (OS) of 50-80% (Coiffier et al., N Engl J Med 2002). Since this group is often precluded from clinical trials and population-based studies are limited, optimal treatment strategy for the old patients with DLBCL remains controversial. Here, we describe a Chinese real-world experience of management of elderly DLBCL patients treated at National Cancer Hospital, China.

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective analysis of consecutive DLBCL patients aged ≥60 who planned to receive chemotherapy +/- rituximab. The standard regimens included 3-4 cycles (early stage disease) or 6 cycles (advanced) of R-CHOP like regimens (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone) followed by two rituximab doses in fit patients; R-miniCHOP for unfit and R-CE(etoposide)OP for frail elder patients. Patient data including baseline characteristics, histology, clinical parameters, and treatment outcomes were extracted from hospital medical records. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoint was OS. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and Kaplan Meier estimates.

Results: From June 2006 to December 2012, 349 patients aged ≥60 years were included, in which 204 patients were aged <70 years (Table 1). 326 patients received chemotherapy or chemo-immunotherapy with rituximab. Median follow up was 82 months. Five year PFS and OS of the elder patients were 45.8% and 51.9%, respectively. Significant difference was seen between patients < 70 years and those ≥70 years in terms of PFS (51.0% vs 38.6%, p=0.030) and OS (58.3% vs 42.8%, p=0.007) (Figure 1). Patients with early-stage disease (Ann Arbor StageⅠ/Ⅱ) had better 5-year PFS (60.1% vs 23.5%, p<0.001) and OS (65.3% vs 30.9%, p<0.001) than patients with advanced disease stage (Ann Arbor Stage III/IV) (Figure2). In addition, regimen including rituximab significantly improved the survival than chemotherapy alone (5-year PFS: 37.3% vs 64.0%, p<0.001; 5-year OS: 44.5% vs 69.3%, p<0.001), especially in patients ≥70 years, which almost doubled 5-year PFS and OS (5-year PFS: 25.4% vs 50.7%, p<0.001; 5-year OS: 28.8% vs 56.0%, p<0.001) (Figure3).

Conclusions: Elder age (≥70 years) and advanced disease stage (Ann Arbor Stage III/IV) are associated with poor PFS and OS in Chinese elder DLBCL patients. The addition of rituximab significantly improves the survival compared to chemotherapy alone, especially in patients aged ≥70 years. These findings underscore the importance of personalized evaluation and treatment in elder patients with DLBCL.

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.