Lymphopenia and clinical outcome of elderly patients treated with sunitinib for metastatic renal cell cancer.

Abstract Objective Lymphopenia is associated with toxicity and outcomes in several cancer types. We assessed the association between pre-treatment lymphopenia, toxicity, and clinical outcomes in elderly patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) treated with first-line sunitinib. Prognostic factors in these patients were also evaluated. Patients and Methods We reviewed the clinical records of 181 patients with mRCC aged ≥ 70 years treated with first-line sunitinib in 17 Italian Oncology Units from February 2006 to September 2011. Baseline lymphopenia was defined as lymphocyte counts Results Twenty-nine (16%) patients had a baseline lymphocyte count Conclusions Sunitinib appears to be safe and active in elderly patients with lymphopenia. Lymphocyte count is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in elderly patients with mRCC treated with first-line sunitinib.