Patients Older Than 65 Years With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Are Suitable for Treatment With 90Yttrium-Ibritumumab Tiuxetan: A Single-Institution Experience

Abstract Background The mean age of patients included in clinical trials does not reflect the current clinical practice for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). We compared our outcomes for patients with B-NHL aged  65 years who were treated with 90-yttrium-ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy ( 90 Y-IT). Patients and Methods A total of 108 patients who had received 90 Y-IT according to the hospital protocol (ISCRTN36210045) were eligible. A quality of life (QoL) assessment using the Medical Outcomes Study short form 36-item survey was performed for patients aged > 65 years. Results Of the 108 patients, 43 were aged > 65 years (mean age, 73.4 years; men 46.15%); 37 had follicular NHL (86.0%). Also, 27 patients had previously undergone  65 years (85.7%). Neutropenia (43.3%) and thrombocytopenia (45.2%) were the most frequent grade 3 and 4 toxicities. Five patients required a red blood cell transfusion and 11, a platelet transfusion. Five patients aged > 65 years (11.6%) developed a second tumor. These outcomes were similar to those for the younger patients. The QoL assessment showed scores similar to those of general population for general health and social functioning. Conclusion This is the largest cohort of NHL treated with RIT in a single institution in Spain. We observed a high response rate and prolonged PFS in patients with B-NHL, independent of patient age. Thus, consolidation RIT offers better outcomes with manageable toxicity.