Outcome of patients aged 80  years or older treated for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

SummaryClinical management of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in patients aged ≥80 years is based on limited evidence due to the lack of published information. Therefore, we analysed CLL patients aged ≥80 years using data from seven phase III clinical trials of the German CLL Study Group. Among 3552 participants, 152 were ≥80 years old at initiation of first‐line st udy treatment. Median age was 82 years (range 80–90). Concomitant diseases were present in 99% of the patients, with a median cumulative illness rating scale score of 8 (0–18). Chemoimmunotherapy with chlorambucil‐obinutuzumab (CLB‐OB) or chlorambucil‐rituximab (CLB‐R) was administered to 61 (40%) and 56 (37%) patients. The remaining patients received CLB (n = 19) or fludarabine (F,n = 10), F/cyclophosphamide (FC, n = 1), FC/rituximab (FCR, n = 2) or bendamustine/rituximab (BR, n = 3). Rates of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and infections were 35% and 13%. Overall response rate was 77% with 13% complete remissions. Median progression‐free survival and treatment‐free survival were 17·2 and 32·3 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 48·3 months; adverse even ts (22%) and progressive CLL (16·4%) were the most frequent causes of death. These findings suggest that anti‐leukaemic treatment including chemoimmunotherapy is feasible and efficacious in ≥80‐year‐old CLL patients. However, this group of patients lives for a shorter time than age‐matche d control...
Source: British Journal of Haematology - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research