Impact of age group on febrile neutropenia risk assessment and management in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP regimens.

UNLABELLED: Improving the management of elderly patients with lymphoma is of increasing relevance. One thousand one hundred thirteen patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) received rituximab (R)-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin [hydroxydaunorubicin], vincristine [Oncovin], and prednisone) in an observational study. Both older and younger patients failed to receive growth factor support in accordance with international guidelines; patients 65 years and older were more susceptible to febrile neutropenia (FN) and its consequences. Better application of guidelines could reduce rates of FN and improve outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is increasing in the elderly population, which is a more challenging population to treat because of comorbidities and enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapy toxicities. This analysis evaluated the impact of age group on assessment of febrile neutropenia (FN) risk, supportive care management, and chemotherapy delivery.

METHODS: The IMPACT non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) trial was an observational study conducted in Europe and Australia. This analysis included 1113 patients with DLBCL treated with rituximab (R)-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin [hydroxydaunorubicin], vincristine [Oncovin], and prednisone) every 14 days (n = 409) or every 21 days (n = 704). Outcomes were reported for ages < 65 years and ≥ 65 years. The primary outcome in this analysis was the proportion of patients assessed by investigators as having an overall high (≥ 20%) FN risk who received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) primary prophylaxis.

RESULTS: For R-CHOP-14, investigators assessed 78% of younger patients and 80% of older patients with ≥ 20% risk of FN, although 14% of younger and 19% of older high-risk patients did not receive G-CSF primary prophylaxis. For R-CHOP-21, investigators assessed 52% of younger and 71% of older patients with ≥ 20% risk of FN; however, 61% of younger and 47% of older high-risk patients did not receive G-CSF primary prophylaxis. Regardless of chemotherapy regimen, rates of FN and unplanned hospitalization were higher in older patients, and delivery of chemotherapy was poorer.

CONCLUSION: Adherence to G-CSF guidelines in patients assessed with high FN risk was suboptimal in patients with DLBCL receiving R-CHOP chemotherapy, with substantial proportions of both younger and older patients receiving R-CHOP-21 failing to receive optimal G-CSF support. Better application of guidelines could reduce FN rates and improve outcomes.