Letter to the Editor.

Although the median age of patients with non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is about 65 years, and is one of the most important prognostic factors in NHL 1,2 high-dose therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation have traditionally been restricted to younger patients. This practice is based on the premise that older patients may not tolerate the intensity of this treatment, may by unable to provide an adequate stem cell graft, or may have an overall poorer prognosis. We have analyzed our experience with HDT supported by PBSCT in 12 elderly patients with NHL treated from August 1998 to July 2001, and compared the outcome and toxicity of the procedure with 26 younger matched NHL patients who were matched on the basis of disease status at transplant, performance status, IPI score, number of pre-transplant chemotherapy regimen and conditioning regimens.