title: Full-dose CHOP chemotherapy combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in elderly patients: a prospective study.
abstract: We assessed the efficacy and safety of full-dose CHOP regimen plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to treat aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in elderly patients. Forty-two patients with untreated disease were included in this study, aged 70-79 years, with stage II or higher disease and a performance status of 0-3, without severe organ dysfunction. Of the 40 patients who could be evaluated 87.5% achieved complete remission, with a 4-year survival rate of 69% and a 3-year progression-free survival rate of 49%. When stratified by the International prognostic Index, the 4-year survival rate was 90.9% for the low and low-intermediate risk group and 41.3% for the high-intermediate and high risk group, whereas the 3-year progression survival rate was 87.7% and 11.3%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity was found in 31 instances of granulocytopenia (77.5%) and 7 of anemia (17.5%). Nonhematological toxicity of grade 3 or 4 included pneumonia in two patients, heart failure in one, and gastrointestinal bleeding in one. Full-dose CHOP regimen with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support could achieve a high-dose intensity in elderly patients whose general physical condition was good and hence achieved a high complete remission rate, but the disease often recurred within 2 years. Consequently, a new therapeutic strategy needs to be established, particularly for patients with high-intermediate or high risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Internal Medicine IV, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Japan. nniitsu@med.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niitsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iijima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone