Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA): A Simple Tool for Guiding the Treatment of Older Adults with Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma in China

BACKGROUND: We aimed to validate a simple Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in older adults with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in China and to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of CGA‐driven therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 78 patients with DLBCL aged ≥60 years were evaluated using CGA with the following parameters: age ≥ 80 years, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL, and modified cumulative illness rating score for geriatrics. Patients were grouped as fit, unfit, or frail. Patients classified as fit received standard‐dose rituximab plus CHOP, whereas patients in the latter two groups received reduced‐dose or reduced‐agent therapy. The overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and toxicities in the three groups were evaluated. RESULTS: According to the CGA, 45 (57.5%) patients were classified as fit, 5 (6.4%) as unfit, and 28 (35.9%) as frail. The ORR was 82.1% (64/78) among all the patients, including 55 patients (70.6%) who achieved complete response and 9 patients (11.5%) who achieved partial response. In the fit and unfit + frail groups, it achieved 97.8% and 60.6%, respectively. In total, 26 (33.3%) patients (10/45 [22.2%] fit and 16/33 [48.5%] unfit + frail) showed disease progression or recurrence. The median follow‐up time was 18 months (range, 5–62). The 3‐year OS and PFS rates were 82% and 58%, respectively. There were no treatment‐related deaths. CONCLUSION: A simple CGA in older adults with DLBCL may be an effective tool for guiding therapeutic strategies in China. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common malignant lymphoma in older adults. The simple tool, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), is proved to be an effective method to identify older adults with DLBCL who are suitable for standard‐dose R‐CHOP regimen therapy. This is the first prospective trial in China to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of CGA‐driven therapy for older adults with DLBCL, and the result showed that this simple CGA may be an effective tool for guiding therapeutic strategies.