Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients Over 60 Years: Hematologic Malignancy Outcomes Are Not Impaired in Advanced Age

Reduced-intensity-conditioning (RIC) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is markedly underutilized in the elderly, in part because the impact of advanced age on outcomes is poorly understood. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes in 158 consecutive hematologic malignancy patients aged ≥60 years (median, 63 years; range: 60-71 years) undergoing fludarabine/busulfan-based RIC, with a median-follow-up of 34 months (range: 12.0-85.7). Multivariate analysis was undertaken for factors having an impact on outcome. For the patients aged ≥60 years, 2-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and relapse was 10% and 54.6%, respectively. Two-year overall and progression-free survival (OS, PFS) was 46% and 35%, respectively. Grade II-IV acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD, cGVHD) incidence was 19.6% and 45.9%, respectively. Comparing 110 patients aged 60-64 years versus 48 patients aged ≥65 years, 2-year NRM and relapse was 10.5% versus 8.3% (P = .84) and 53.5% versus 56.3% (P = .31), respectively. Grade II-IV aGVHD and cGVHD incidence was 19.1% versus 22.9% (P = .52) and 51.8% versus 32.5% (P = .01), respectively. Two-year OS and PFS was 49% versus 41% (P = .11) and 36% versus 35% (P = .24), respectively. In a multivariate Cox-model, high-risk disease associated with poorer PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.1, P = .01) and OS (HR = 1.84, P = .03); acute myelogenous leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis (HR = 1.66, P = .03) and matched-related donor (HR = 1.62, P = .03) associated with poorer PFS. RIC HSCT is well tolerated, with reasonable survival in elderly patients. Age is not associated with impaired outcomes. HSCT should not be excluded solely based on advanced patient age.