Adjusted Chemotherapy According to Frailty Status in Elderly Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Experience From a Single Referral Center in Mexico City.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy is associated with significant toxicity in elderly patients treated for hematological malignancies. Adequate tools to identify the best tailored treatment are essential. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical charts of patients treated with adjusted chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma according to frailty status between August 1, 2013 and June 30, 2016 were included. Three groups were identified: fit, unfit, and frail patients. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients with a median age of 70.5 years were analyzed. Adverse prognostic characteristics were more frequent than expected in the frail group, contributing to a worse outcome. The complete response (CR) rate for all patients was 61.2% (66.6%, 78.3%, and 40.0% for fit, unfit, and frail patients, respectively; P = .121). The 2-year overall survival (OS) for all patients was 78% (87%, 82%, and 59% for fit, unfit, and frail patients, respectively; P = .159) and the mean 2-year disease-free survival was 96% (87% for frail patients and 100% for unfit and fit patients; P = .287). Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity was present in 83.3%, 65.2%, and 45% of fit, unfit, and frail patients, respectively. CR after therapy had a positive effect on OS, whereas ≥ 2 extranodal sites and febrile neutropenia had a negative effect. CONCLUSION: Frailty status assessment resulted in the identification of a group of unfit patients who had adequate tolerance to adjusted chemotherapy (R-choP; rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine adjusted to 80% of the corresponding total doses in R-CHOP [rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone]) with good results.

Association of recipient and donor hypercholesterolemia prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation and graft-versus-host disease.

Few authors have reported a decreased frequency of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) using statins, as these medications have anti-inflammatory effects, however, to date, the direct association between high cholesterol and GVHD has not been reported. The aim of his study was to investigate the association of recipient and donor hypercholesterolemia with the incidence of aGVHD. A retrospective analysis was performed identifying allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients and donors at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition in Mexico City between May 1999 and August 2017. The final cohort included 113 consecutive patients undergoing allo-HSCT and 110 donors with complete data. Acute GVHD was present in 24% patients. A statistically significant increase in the frequency of aGVHD associated with hypercholesterolemia in the recipients or donors (p = 0.03 and p = 0.008, respectively). Hypercholesterolemia in both, donor and recipient, was also associated with increased aGVHD compared to either patient or donor having hypercholesterolemia or neither (p = 0.002). No statistical significance was observed for other variables. To date, this is the first study associating hypercholesterolemia with aGVHD. According to our results we conclude that hypercholesterolemia in the donor, or in both, the patient and donor, is an independent factor for the development of aGVHD, however, further prospective and larger studies are needed as our results are preliminary.