title: Expected long-term survival of older patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New therapeutic options have led to substantial increases in survival expectations of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in recent years. In contrast to many malignancies, survival in older patients has improved in NHL at a rate similar to that in younger patients. In the past, the impact of innovations on long-term survival of NHL patients on the population level has been disclosed only with substantial delay.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employ a novel model-based projection method to estimate survival expectations of NHL patients age 60+ diagnosed in 2008-2012. Preliminary empirical evaluation of the method using historical data indicates excellent performance in projection of age specific and overall 5- and 10-year relative survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 5- and 10-year survival projections for 2008-2012 were 67.5% and 56.9%, respectively, 8.2 percentage units (% units) and 15.2% units, respectively, higher than the most recent survival estimates available from traditional cohort analysis. Projected survival decreased with age, ranging from 79.1% for patients age 60-64 to 54.3% for patients age 80+. Projected survival estimates for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma were 59% and 84.9%, respectively. Survival estimates by model-based projection were substantially higher than available cohort estimates for all age groups including 80+, each specific morphology examined, nodal and extranodal disease, and both genders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients over 60 diagnosed with NHL in 2008-2012 have much higher long-term survival expectations than suggested by previously available survival statistics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pulte
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gondos
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D018426:SEER Program; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology