A 20-year experience on malignant lymphomas in patients aged 70 and older at a single institute

We have evaluated the clinico-pathological and therepeutical outcome of patients aged 70 and older with malignant lymphomas treated at a single institute over a 20-year period of time. Among the several studies evaluated, the most important is a prospective randomized study comparing a new regimen, VMP (VP 16, Mitoxantrone and Prednimustine) vs the goal standard CHOP in unfavorable non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), showing that CHOP is significantly better than VMP in terms of objective response rate, progression free and overall survival. Therefore CHOP remains the standard regimen also for patients of over 70 years of age and stage II--IV intermediate and high grade NHL.