title: Safety and efficacy of yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan in older patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment-related complications are more common in older patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), often leading to chemotherapy modifications that can compromise efficacy. We analyzed data from clinical trials of yttrium-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin); Biogen Idec, Cambridge, MA) to determine its safety and efficacy in older patients with NHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on safety and efficacy from four clinical trials of (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan in 211 patients with NHL were pooled and analyzed by ages of <60, 60-69, and > or =70 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients > or =70 years had a similar incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (68% vs. 66%), thrombocytopenia (68% vs. 70%), anemia (8% vs. 22%), and nonhematologic adverse events (23% vs. 19%) as that observed in patients <60 years. Response rates (range, 71%-80%) and the durations of response (median of 9.9, 11.0, and 9.4 months) were similar in the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yttrium-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan produces high rates of clinical response (up to 80%) and durable remissions in patients with NHL, and can be given at standard doses in older patients. The favorable safety profile of the regimen makes it an effective treatment for older patients, who may not otherwise tolerate the adverse events associated with chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. chrem@interbalkan-hosp.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emmanouilides
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Witzig
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.forename: Leo I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schilder
authors.forename: M Wayne
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Saville
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flinn
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016499:Radioimmunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000922:Immunotoxins; C422802:ibritumomab tiuxetan