Changes in survival of primary central nervous system lymphoma based on a review of national databases over 40 years.

Abstract

2040 Background: There has been significant improvement in treatment outcomes of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) at specialized centers over past decades, and it is unclear if these changes have translated to benefits in the general population. In this study, we utilized national databases to examine survival trends over time. Methods: Incidence rates were obtained from the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS, 2000 – 2013) and 18 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER, 1973 – 2013) registries. Data for survival analysis was obtained from SEER and analyzed using SEER*STAT. To focus on non-HIV-associated PCNSL, patients with “other infectious and parasitic diseases including HIV” as cause of death and follow up were excluded. CBTRUS identified 19,027 patients over 13 years and SEER 6,765 over 40 years. Results: The annual incidence of PCNSL in 2013 was 0.4 per 100,000 population (CBTRUS/SEER). Incidence increased from 0.1 per 100,000 in the 1970s to 0.4 per 100,000 in the 1980s, correlating with an increase in the diagnosis of elderly patients, ≥70 (1973:0.2 vs 2013:2.1 – SEER). Incidence rates differed greatly between young and elderly patients (20-29: 0.08 vs 70-79: 4.32 – CBTRUS). The median overall survival (mOS) of all patients is 17 months (m) with no survival benefit based on sex. Survival doubled from 12.5 m in the 1970s to 26 m in the 2010s. There was a significant difference in survival based on age: < 50: 83 m vs 50-69: 25 m vs ≥70: 6 m (p-value < 0.0001). In patients < 50, mOS increased from 35.5 m in the 1970s to 134 m in the 2000s (mOS not achieved in 2010s). In patients 50-69, mOS increased from 8 m in the 1970s to 35 m in the 2010s. However, mOS in the elderly population, ≥70, has not changed in the last 40 years (6 m in the 1970s vs 7 m in the 2010s, p-value = 0.1). Conclusions: PCNSL is a disease that more frequently affects the elderly. Although overall survival has increased over the past 4 decades, reflecting current literature in PCNSL, survival in the elderly has not changed since the 1970s. Identification of this vulnerable patient population highlights the need for clinical trials targeting the elderly in hopes of improving treatment strategies and ultimately outcomes.