Real Benefit of Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy in Elderly and Impaired Patients: a Retrospective Analysis

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a frequent cancer in elderly population. Comorbidities often influence the choice among different treatment options; particularly, concern about anthracyclines’ cardiotoxicity induces to select less effective chemotherapy regimens. The present retrospective study includes NHL patients treated in a single institution with and without antracyclines; clinical results have been analysed comparing both elderly (> 70 years) and not-elderly and impaired and not impaired population. 68 patients affected by NHL, diagnosed between 1996 and 2011, have been included. Median OS of whole population was 34 months; there was no significative difference in OS related to age or comorbidities among patients treated with anthracyclines-based regimens. Median OS of elderly patients not treated with anthracyclines resulted significantly lower, irrespectively of comorbidities (20 months); 94% of elderly patients who undergone anthracyclines-based regimen reported symptoms relief and performance status improvement, compared to 75% of elderly not treated with anthracyclines. Results of this retrospective analysis suggest that anthracyclines-based chemotherapy produces a significant improvement in OS and QoL,even in elderly or impaired patients. Comorbidities and age don’t seem absolute contraindications to anthracycline-based chemotherapy.