Retrospective single center study focusing on elderly (age > 70 yrs) CLL patients
Elderly patients presented with: more advanced clinical stage, higher B2M, lower WBC count, longer LDT
Elderly patients: treated less frequently; 3 yr TTFT 23.8% vs. 41.9%
Type of treatment given (elderly vs. younger): alkylating agents (70% vs. 36%), purine analogs (10% vs. 32%), chemoimmunotherapy (5% vs. 25%), other (15% vs. 7%) (p<.001)
Response rate lower in elderly: ORR 49 % vs 69%; CR 14% vs 31%
Overall survival (OS): shorter in elderly (6.6 vs. 13.3 years; higher CLL-unrelated mortality observed
No significant differences regarding ZAP70, FISH cytogenetics, IGHV mutational status, NOTCH1, SF3B1 mutations.
- Only co-morbidity burden at treatment initiation and response to therapy had independent prognostic value for OS in elderly
Patients >70 years have more advanced stage, similar biology of CLL compared to age <70
Treatment requiring patients only have co-morbidity and response to therapy as prognostic factors
Only small proportion of elderly patients could receive effective therapy as currently conceived.
View the original abstract on the ASH website.
