Prognostic factors in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, bleomycin, adriamycin, procarbazine (COP-BLAM) therapy

Elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, bleomycin, Adriamycin, procarbazine (COP-BLAM) therapy at our institution. Prognostic factors were analyzed in 62 patients with untrated NHL aged 65 years or older. Of these patients, 47 (75.8%) achieved a complete remission and 11 (17.7%) partial remission. The overall response rate was 93.5%, with a 5-year survival rate of 70%. Factors with prognostic significance included age, performance status, albumin, stage, B symptoms, and histologic type according to the International Working Formulation. Of the 62 patients, 26 were alive at the time of writing. Of the 36 patients who died, 30 died due to progression of NHL or treatment-related disorders, and 6 died from disease other than NHL. Some of the prognostic factors identified in these elderly patients are not included among the prognostic factors reported for younger patients, suggesting the need to individualize chemotherapy for NHLs of different types, which can be defined by prognostic factors. Prognostic factors other than age should be taken into account, particularly when doses and dosing intervals are determined.