Comparison of two non-anthracycline-containing regimens for elderly patients with diffuse large-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma--possible pitfalls in results reporting and interpretation.

Age over 65 years is a risk factor per se for doxorubicin administration, and coexisting diseases pose additional problems. There is still controversy whether chemotherapy regimens for elderly patients with aggressive NHL should be full-dose doxorubicin containing or whether development of non-anthracycline containing regimens is warranted. In this prospective study, 47 patients aged over 65 years with diffuse large cell NHL clinical Stage I/IE bulky-IV and no other initial exclusion criteria were randomized to receive either BCNU 120 mg/m2 d.