Abstract
Introduction: The optimal management of elderly patients (pts) with Hodgkin's lymphoma is not yet defined. The aims of the present study were: 1) to evaluate clinical and laboratory characteristics of elderly pts; 2) to indentify risk factors for unfavorable outcome.
Patients and methods: The outcome of 182 pts >= 60 years (y) was retrospectively analyzed (median age, 67y). Mixed cellularity histology was diagnosed in 49.5 %, advanced stage of disease was in 68.7 % pts, CIRS > 3 in 35.7 %, ECOG PS >= 2 in 22.9 % (60-69y) of pts.
Chemotherapy (CMT) alone was used in 69.2 % and combination of CMT and radiotherapy in 26.9 % of pts. Anthracycline-based CMT received 83.5 % of pts.
The median follow-up was 4.5y. Results: The overall response/complete remission rate was 85.6/70.7 %.
The median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 10y and 11.3y, respectively. Estimated 5-y PFS and 5-y OS were 65.7 % (in contrast to 98.2 % in pts 3, lymphopenia 3, lymphopenia < 8 % and anthracycline-free chemotherapy appear to be significant for unfavorable outcome.