Study Charts Success in Elderly Lymphoma Tx

TOPLINE:

Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes among older patients with follicular lymphoma show significant heterogeneity, with 13,423 Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years followed through 2src19. Over a median follow-up of 57.1 months, survival rates improved significantly, with mortality risk reduced by 21% and 36% for patients diagnosed in 2srcsrc6-2src11 and 2src12-2src17, respectively, compared with 2srcsrcsrc-2srcsrc5.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, which combines cancer registry information with Medicare claims for covered health services.
• A total of 13,423 patients aged ≥ 65 years diagnosed with follicular lymphoma between January 1, 2srcsrcsrc, and December 31, 2src17, were included, with follow-up through 2src19.
• Analysis tracked treatment patterns and outcomes with a median follow-up of 57.1 months, during which 38% of patients received no systemic treatment, while 62%, 23%, 9%, and 4% received ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and ≥ 4 lines of therapy, respectively.

TAKEAWAY:

• Survival rates improved significantly (P <.srcsrcsrc1), with a 21% and 36% reduction in mortality risk among patients diagnosed in 2srcsrc6-2src11 and 2src12-2src17, respectively, compared with 2srcsrcsrc-2srcsrc5.
• Median event-free survival decreased across treatment lines: 33.1, 19.3, 15.5, and 13.src months for first, second, third, and fourth lines, respectively.
• Median overall survival also declined with subsequent lines of therapy: 79.6, 47.5, 32.8, and 26.1 months for first, second, third, and fourth lines, respectively.
• Researchers found that progression within 24 months after first-line therapy, receiving third-line therapy within 36 months, and double-refractory disease were associated with shorter overall survival.

IN PRACTICE:

“This study shows that the real-world sequence of treatments in older patients with follicular lymphoma is heterogeneous. Despite improvement in clinical outcomes, early progressors and patients with double-refractory disease continue to have poor outcomes,” the study’s authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Dai Chihara, MD, PhD, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and published online in Blood Neoplasia.

LIMITATIONS:

Due to the study’s focus on older patients in the SEER-Medicare database, results may not be generalizable to younger patients with follicular lymphoma. The analysis did not assess cause-specific mortality, and deaths from causes other than lymphoma could not be ruled out. Treatment-related adverse events and potential adverse event-related mortality could not be determined using administrative claims data. Additionally, clinical data for disease progression and relapse were unavailable, requiring the use of new line of therapy initiation as a proxy measure.

DISCLOSURES:

Chihara, MD, PhD, disclosed receiving research funding from Genmab, BMS, Genentech, MorphoSys, ONO Pharmaceutical, and Ipsen. Shibing Yang reported former employment with Genmab. Several authors reported current employment with either Genmab or AbbVie. Medical writing support was provided by Lorena Tonarelli, MSc, of Peloton Advantage, LLC, an OPEN Health company, and was funded by Genmab A/S and AbbVie.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.