A Simplified Geriatric Assessment (sGA) Can Identify Older Patients with Relapse/Refractory (R/R) Aggressive Lymphoma Suitable for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT): Final Results of Recanz Multicentre Prospective Phase 2 Study By the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL)

Introduction:We recently demonstrated in a large multicentre study that sGA can identify fit older patients with aggressive lymphoma able to tolerate first-line intensive treatment with curative intent and to obtain similar results than younger people (Merli at al JCO 2021). Regardless of age, about 40% of patients with aggressive lymphoma are either refractory or will eventually relapse after treatment with curative intent. Salvage platinum-based regimens followed by ASCT in responsive disease is a standard of care to obtain longer second remission. However, in many case series, patients over 65 years are excluded from the transplant approach because of potential severe toxicities of high-dose therapy in older patients. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and activity of high-dose treatment followed by ASCT in older FIT patients with R/R aggressive lymphoma selected with a sGA.