Reduced-intensity chemotherapy and PET-guided radiotherapy in patients with advanced stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HD15 trial): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 non-inferiority trial

Hodgkin disease-an ever-evolving therapy

Therapy of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rapidly changing field due to plenty of currently emerging data. Treatment approaches are currently based on tailoring of therapy in order to achieve a maximal response with minimal toxicity. Since the median age of HL patients is 33 years and their prospective life expectancy of another half a century, a major emphasis needs to be put on dramatic reduction of later toxicity. The assessment of the treatment effect should be based not only on progression-free survival, but should include evaluation of cardiac toxicity, secondary neoplasms, and fertility in the long-term follow-up. The ancient principle "first do no harm" should be central in HL therapy. Completion of ongoing and currently initiated trials could elucidate multiple issues related to the management of HL patients.

Recommendations for initial evaluation, staging, and response assessment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the Lugano classification

The purpose of this work was to modernize recommendations for evaluation, staging, and response assessment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A workshop was held at the 11th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma in Lugano, Switzerland, in June 2011, that included leading hematologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and nuclear medicine physicians, representing major international lymphoma clinical trials groups and cancer centers. Clinical and imaging subcommittees presented their conclusions at a subsequent workshop at the 12th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, leading to revised criteria for staging and of the International Working Group Guidelines of 2007 for response. As a result, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) was formally incorporated into standard staging for FDG-avid lymphomas. A modification of the Ann Arbor descriptive terminology will be used for anatomic distribution of disease extent, but the suffixes A or B for symptoms will only be included for HL. A bone marrow biopsy is no longer indicated for the routine staging of HL and most diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. However, regardless of stage, general practice is to treat patients based on limited (stages I and II, nonbulky) or advanced (stage III or IV) disease, with stage II bulky disease considered as limited or advanced disease based on histology and a number of prognostic factors. PET-CT will be used to assess response in FDG-avid histologies using the 5-point scale. The product of the perpendicular diameters of a single node can be used to identify progressive disease. Routine surveillance scans are discouraged. These recommendations should improve evaluation of patients with lymphoma and enhance the ability to compare outcomes of clinical trials.

The challenging aspects of managing adolescents and young adults with Hodgkin's lymphoma

Cancer in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) is the second leading cause of nonaccidental death with hematological malignancies spiking during this period. Treatment of AYAs with hematological malignancies usually follows either pediatric or adult protocols with sufficient information lacking on subgroup analyses regarding course and outcome. In this review we will outline up-to-date treatment possibilities for AYAs diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Early and late toxicities will be addressed and future directions of research suggested.

Combination chemoradiotherapy in early Hodgkin lymphoma

Combination chemoradiotherapy achieves excellent results for the treatment of localized Hodgkin lymphoma. However, late toxic effects occur, mostly related to the radiotherapy administered after the standard adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy. The most serious sequelae are radiation-induced secondary cancers. Reducing radiotherapy has not yet prevented late malignancies. However, when radiotherapy was omitted, tumor control was inferior, with more relapses necessitating rescue treatment including high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support. Early fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography performed after a few cycles of ABVD is evaluated in several randomized trials to identify patients who might be safely treated with chemotherapy alone.

Hodgkin lymphoma: 2014 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoid malignancy affecting 9,200 new patients annually and representing approximately 11.5% of all lymphomas in the United States.

DIAGNOSIS

HL is composed of two distinct disease entities; the more commonly diagnosed classical HL and the rare nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL. Nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depletion, and lymphocyte-rich HL are subgroups under the designation of classical HL.

RISK STRATIFICATION

An accurate assessment of the stage of disease in patients with HL is critical for the selection of the appropriate therapy. Prognostic models that identify patients at low or high risk for recurrence, as well as the response to therapy as determined by positron emission tomography scan, are used to optimize therapy.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Initial therapy for HL patients is based on the histology of the disease, the anatomical stage, and the presence of poor prognostic features. Patients with early stage disease are treated with combined modality strategies using abbreviated courses of combination chemotherapy followed by involved-field radiation therapy, while those with advanced stage disease receive a longer course of chemotherapy often without radiation therapy. Management of relapsed/refractory disease: High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard of care for most patients who relapse following initial therapy. For patients who fail HDCT with ASCT, brentuximab vedotin, palliative chemotherapy, nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplant, or participation in a clinical trial should be considered.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of Hodgkin's lymphoma in Hong Kong Chinese

INTRODUCTION

Little information is available on the outcomes of Hodgkin's lymphoma in Chinese patients. We analyzed the clinical and histopathological characteristics, treatment types, clinical course and treatment outcomes of Hong Kong Chinese patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed from January 1991 to December 2010 were recruited. A retrospective analysis of these patients was performed.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven Chinese patients (38 males and 29 females) were identified and the median age was 36 (range 16-80). Nodular sclerosis was the most common histology (54%), followed by mixed cellularity (36%). Twenty-four patients had early favorable, 20 patients had early unfavorable and 23 patients had advanced-stage diseases. The most common presentation was palpable lymph node or mass (85%) followed by fever, weight loss, night sweating and mediastinal mass. Ninety percent of patients received chemotherapy and 40% received radiotherapy as consolidation. Seven patients with stage I lymphoma received radiotherapy alone. ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) was the most commonly used chemotherapeutic regimen. Following treatment, 87% of patients achieved complete remission. Six patients relapsed after first remission and 3 achieved second remission after re-induction therapy. The 5-year overall survival of the entire cohort was 89% and the freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) at 5 years was 82%. The 5-year overall survival rate for early favorable, early unfavorable and advanced stages was 95.7%, 95.0% and 74.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the relatively low incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma in Hong Kong Chinese, the treatment outcomes are comparable to Caucasian patients.

Primary adrenal nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: A case report and review of the literature

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and is a rare disease manifestation in the adrenal gland, which is difficult to be diagnosed and treated. In the present study, we report a case of primary adrenal NLPHL in a 36-year-old male patient. The patient was without specific clinical signs and the definitive diagnosis was achieved by histological study. The patient underwent a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy and chemotherapy regimen of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). There is no standard treatment for adrenal NLPHL and therefore, treatment is based on that for other types of NLPHL, which includes radiotherapy and ABVD chemotherapy. Given the rarity of this disease, there are limited experiences with regard to its diagnosis and treatment. This study is useful for the differential diagnosis and treatment of adrenal masses.

Which Hodgkin's patients in the Unites States should be treated with BEACOPP?

The majority of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma are cured with current standard therapy such as Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD). However, almost 20% of patients fail to achieve complete remission, and depending upon risk group, 20-30% experience relapse with prolonged follow-up. BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, prednisone, procarbazine) was developed by the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) to improve upon standard therapy by intensifying treatment and substituting etoposide and procarbazine for vinblastine and dacarbazine, respectively. In the HD9 trial, escalated BEACOPP was shown to be superior to COPP/ABVD with regard to time to treatment failure, but was associated with increased risk of secondary malignancies. Modifications of BEACOPP were developed to maintain efficacy while reducing the adverse effects. While several randomized trials have confirmed prolongation of progression-free survival with BEACOPP compared to ABVD, a survival advantage has been difficult to demonstrate. Given the comparable survival between BEACOPP and ABVD, as well as the greater toxicities of the former, including infertility, myelosuppression, and secondary malignancies, ABVD should remain the standard regimen for patients in the U.S. Newer regimens incorporating novel agents such as brentuximab vedotin may further improve the efficacy of current regimens.

[Molecular imaging in oncological surgery: technical principles and importance]

BACKGROUND

Diagnostic imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming increasingly more involved in oncological therapy management.

OBJECTIVES

How can PET be helpful in oncological surgery?

METHODS

After a short introduction into the basic principles of PET the current state of imaging as well as indications and limitations of the method are described.

RESULTS

The PET is a functional and quantitative imaging technique, enabling detection and characterization of tumors. It is applied in pretherapeutic staging as well as in follow-up and therapy assessment. The use of PET changes the therapy management in about one third of all oncology patients. New radiopharmaceuticals and novel technologies expand the diagnostic potential.

DISCUSSION

Hybrid imaging with PET computed tomography (CT) and PET magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) further improves diagnostic imaging and increases the acceptance of PET further.

Assessment of tumor size reduction improves outcome prediction of positron emission tomography/computed tomography after chemotherapy in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma

PURPOSE

Positron emission tomography (PET) after chemotherapy can guide consolidating radiotherapy in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). This analysis aims to improve outcome prediction by integrating additional criteria derived by computed tomography (CT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The analysis set consisted of 739 patients with residues≥2.5 cm after chemotherapy from a total of 2,126 patients treated in the HD15 trial (HD15 for advanced stage Hodgkin's disease: Quality assurance protocol for reduction of toxicity and the prognostic relevance of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography [FDG-PET] in the first-line treatment of advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease) performed by the German Hodgkin Study Group. A central panel performed image analysis and interpretation of CT scans before and after chemotherapy as well as PET scans after chemotherapy. Prognosis was evaluated by using progression-free survival (PFS); groups were compared with the log-rank test. Potential prognostic factors were investigated by using receiver operating characteristic analysis and logistic regression.

RESULTS

In all, 548 (74%) of 739 patients had PET-negative residues after chemotherapy; these patients did not receive additional radiotherapy and showed a 4-year PFS of 91.5%. The 191 PET-positive patients (26%) receiving additional radiotherapy had a 4-year PFS of 86.1% (P=.022). CT alone did not allow further separation of patients in partial remission by risk of recurrence (P=.9). In the subgroup of the 54 PET-positive patients with a relative reduction of less than 40%, the risk of progression or relapse within the first year was 23.1% compared with 5.3% for patients with a larger reduction (difference, 17.9%; 95% CI, 5.8% to 30%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with HL who have PET-positive residual disease after chemotherapy and poor tumor shrinkage are at high risk of progression or relapse.

An update on emerging drugs for Hodgkin lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Most patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are cured with modern combined modality first-line treatments. Even ~ 50% of patients with relapsed/refractory HL can be cured with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation. However, chemotherapy and radiotherapy cause significant acute and long-term side effects and patients relapsing after HDCT have a dismal prognosis. New drugs are therefore needed to reduce the toxicity of first-line treatments and to increase the efficacy of relapse treatments. Moreover, new drugs are needed for the treatment of older patients with HL because results with current treatments are disappointing.

AREAS COVERED

This article discusses promising new drugs for the treatment of classical HL that have been evaluated in the last years. There is a focus on the antibody drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin and its potential for the future treatment of HL. Moreover, data on the histone deacetylase inhibitors panobinostat and mocetinostat, the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus, the Janus kinase 2 inhibitor SB1518 and the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide are summarized.

EXPERT OPINION

Besides improving the prognosis of relapsed patients, new drugs should be used to replace the most toxic compounds in first-line therapy to reduce acute and long-term toxicities of the treatment.

qPET - a quantitative extension of the Deauville scale to assess response in interim FDG-PET scans in lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Interim FDG-PET is used for treatment tailoring in lymphoma. Deauville response criteria consist of five ordinal categories based on visual comparison of residual tumor uptake to physiological reference uptakes. However, PET-response is a continuum and visual assessments can be distorted by optical illusions.

OBJECTIVES

With a novel semi-automatic quantification tool we eliminate optical illusions and extend the Deauville score to a continuous scale.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

SUVpeak of residual tumors and average uptake of the liver is measured with standardized volumes of interest. The qPET value is the quotient of these measurements. Deauville scores and qPET-values were determined in 898 pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma patients after two OEPA chemotherapy cycles.

RESULTS

Deauville categories translate to thresholds on the qPET scale: Categories 3, 4, 5 correspond to qPET values of 0.95, 1.3 and 2.0, respectively. The distribution of qPET values is unimodal with a peak representing metabolically normal responses and a tail of clearly abnormal outliers. In our patients, the peak is at qPET = 0.95 coinciding with the border between Deauville 2 and 3. qPET cut values of 1.3 or 2 (determined by fitting mixture models) select abnormal metabolic responses with high sensitivity, respectively, specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

qPET methodology provides semi-automatic quantification for interim FDG-PET response in lymphoma extending ordinal Deauville scoring to a continuous scale. Deauville categories correspond to certain qPET cut values. Thresholds between normal and abnormal response can be derived from the qPET-distribution without need for follow-up data. In our patients, qPET < 1.3 excludes abnormal response with high sensitivity.

Customized targeted therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma: hype or hope?

Although most patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are cured with primary therapy, patients with primary refractory disease or relapse after initial treatment have poor outcomes and represent an unmet medical need. Recent advances in unraveling the biology of HL have yielded a plethora of novel targeted therapies. This review provides an overview of the data behind the hype generated by these advances and addresses the question of whether or not clinically these targeted therapies offer hope for patients with HL.

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the German Hodgkin Study Group

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (t-AML/MDS) represent severe late effects in patients treated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Because more recent data are scarce, we retrospectively analyzed incidence, outcome, and risk factors for the development of t-AML/MDS after HL. A total of 11,952 patients treated for newly diagnosed HL within German Hodgkin Study Group trials between 1993 and 2009 were considered. At a median follow-up of 72 months, t-AML/MDS was diagnosed in 106/11,952 patients (0.9%). Median time from HL treatment to t-AML/MDS was 31 months. The median age of patients with t-AML/MDS was higher than in the whole patient group (43 vs 34 years, P < .0001). Patients who received 4 or more cycles of BEACOPP(escalated) had an increased risk to develop t-AML/MDS when compared with patients treated with less than 4 cycles of BEACOPP(escalated) or no BEACOPP chemotherapy (1.7% vs 0.7% vs 0.3%, P < .0001). The median overall survival (OS) for all t-AML/MDS patients was 7.2 months. However, t-AML/MDS patients proceeding to allogeneic stem cell transplantation had a significantly better outcome with a median OS not reached after a median follow-up of 41 months (P < .001).

Chronic fatigue in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors and associations with anxiety, depression and comorbidity

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is a frequent and persistent problem among Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors. We investigated the prevalence of clinically relevant fatigue in HL survivors and the relation between fatigue and anxiety and depression.

METHODS

Fatigue was measured through the generic European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). Anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Questionnaires were mailed to 267 HL survivors. Results were compared with a Dutch age-matched normative population.

RESULTS

Response rate was 68% (median age 46 years, mean time since diagnosis 4.6 years). Prevalence of fatigue was significantly higher among HL survivors than in the norm population (FAS 41% vs 23%, QLQ-C30 43% vs 28%), as were fatigue levels. There was a significant association between fatigue, anxiety and depression. Of the HL survivors with high symptom levels of depression, 97% also reported fatigue. In multivariate analysis, depression was strongly associated with high levels of fatigue and, to a lesser extent, anxiety and comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence rates of fatigue are significantly higher in HL survivors than in the general population and differences are clinically relevant. Depression and anxiety were strongly associated with high levels of fatigue. Reducing fatigue levels by treatment of depression and anxiety should be further explored.

[News in hodgkin lymphoma therapy]

Hodgkin lymphoma is a well-known clinico-pathological entity with a stable incidence among time accounting for 1200 new cases each year in France. The disease is one of the most curable cancer and occurs often in young patients with a median age at 33 years, the major clinical symptoms are lymph nodes mostly above the diaphragm (mediastinal and supra-clavicular). The diagnosis should be suggested with non-specific symptoms such as fever, night sweats, pruritus, weight-loss, lymph node, cough.. leading to prescribe routine exams like blood test with leucocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and chest Xray. Treatments always include chemotherapy and radiotherapy in localized disease and at a low dose only in involved fields. The usually good prognostic of Hodgkin lymphoma may not let us forget that there are still deaths in patients with refractory or early relapse of the disease. There is still an unmet need is these patients and the search for new drugs is essential.

The prognostic impact of variant histology in nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)

Histopathologic variants of nodular lymphocyte–predominant Hodgkin lymphoma are associated with advanced stage and increased relapse rate. A prognostic score combining histopathologic and clinical features can allocate patients to 3 defined risk groups.

Brentuximab vedotin combined with ABVD or AVD for patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin's lymphoma: a phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation study

BACKGROUND

Roughly 70-80% of patients with advanced stage Hodgkin's lymphoma are cured with various first-line and second-line treatments, including ABVD, BEACOPP, and stem-cell transplantation. Brentuximab vedotin has shown significant clinical activity, with a manageable safety profile, in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. We aimed to assess the safety and early clinical efficacy of this drug as first-line treatment in combination with standard or modified-standard treatment in patients with previously untreated Hodgkin's lymphoma.

METHODS

We did a phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation safety study comparing brentuximab vedotin in combination with standard (ABVD) or a modified-standard (AVD) treatment. Patients were enrolled into the groups sequentially. Main entry criteria were newly diagnosed, treatment-naive, CD30-positive patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma who had histologically confirmed stage IIA bulky disease or stage IIB-IV disease and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of two or less. Patients received doses of 0·6, 0·9, or 1·2 mg/kg brentuximab vedotin by intravenous infusion every 2 weeks with either ABVD (25 mg/m(2) doxorubicin, 10 units/m(2) bleomycin, 6 mg/m(2) vinblastine, and 375 mg/m(2) dacarbazine) or AVD (ABVD modified regimen without the inclusion of bleomycin) for up to six cycles. Our primary objectives were to assess the safety profile and establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of brentuximab vedotin in combination with ABVD and AVD. The safety profile and MTD was assessed for the safety population. The study has completed and the final analysis is presented. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01060904.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 29, 2010, and Sept 17, 2012, 51 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of brentuximab vedotin. The maximum tolerated dose of brentuximab vedotin when combined with ABVD or AVD was not exceeded at 1·2 mg/kg. 21 (95%) of 22 patients given brentuximab vedotin and ABVD achieved complete remission, as did 24 (96%) of 25 patients given brentuximab vedotin and AVD. Adverse events were generally grade 1 or 2; however, an unacceptable number of patients in the brentuximab vedotin and ABVD groups had pulmonary toxic effects (11 [44%] of 25), which exceeded the historical incidence for ABVD alone. No patients experienced pulmonary toxic effects when treated with brentuximab vedotin plus AVD. The most common grade 3 or worse events were neutropenia (20 [80%] of 25 patients in the brentuximab vedotin and ABVD group vs 20 [77%] of 26 patients in the brentuximab vedotin and AVD group), anaemia (five [20%] vs three [12%]), febrile neutropenia (five [20%] vs two [8%]), pulmonary toxic effects (six [24%] vs 0), syncope (three [12%] vs two [8%]), dyspnoea (three [12%] vs one [4%]), pulmonary embolism (three [12%] vs 0), fatigue (one [4%] each), and leucopenia (one [4%] each). Serious events occured in 41% of all patients (14 [56%] in the brentuximab vedotin and ABVD group and seven [27%] in the brentuximab vedotin and AVD group). Serious events occurring in 10% of patients or more overall were febrile neutropenia (four [16%] in the brentuximab vedotin and ABVD group vs two [8%] in the brentuximab vedotin and AVD group), and, in the brentuximab vedotin and ABVD group only, pulmonary toxic effects (six [24%]).

INTERPRETATION

Brentuximab vedotin should not be given with bleomycin in general or specifically as first-line therapy for patients with treatment naive, advanced stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. 1·2 mg/kg brentuximab vedotin combined with AVD given every 2 weeks was generally well tolerated by patients. At present, a phase 3 trial comparing brentuximab vedotin plus AVD to ABVD alone is ongoing (ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01712490) and will formally assess whether brentuximab vedotin plus AVD might redefine therapy in treatment-naive patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

FUNDING

Seattle Genetics Inc and Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.

Disparate survival and risk of secondary non-Hodgkin lymphoma in histologic subtypes of Hodgkin lymphoma: a population-based study

We compared survival outcomes and rates of secondary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in 28 323 patients with nodular lymphocyte predominant (NLPHL) and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, diagnosed between 1995 and 2010. In a multivariate analysis NLPHL demonstrated a significantly better relative survival (5-year risk of lymphoma-related death 5.7%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.46, p < 0.0001) than the reference nodular sclerosis (NSHL) subtype (5-year risk 12.7%). Lymphocyte-rich classical HL had outcomes comparable to NSHL (5-year risk 14.3%, HR 0.84, p = 0.11). Exceptionally poor outcomes were observed in lymphocyte depleted HL (5-year risk 48.8%, HR 2.26, p < 0.0001). The risk of secondary NHL was increased in NLPHL (HR 2.81, p < 0.001) and lymphocyte-rich classical HL (HR 2.27, p = 0.002), but not in other subtypes compared with NSHL. In conclusion, the histologic classification retains a significant prognostic value in HL and the disparities between the subtypes warrant customized treatment and surveillance strategies.

When should FDG-PET be used in the modern management of lymphoma?

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging technique that, combined with computerized tomography (PET-CT), is increasingly used in lymphoma. Most subtypes accumulate fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and the increased sensitivity of PET-CT, especially for extranodal disease, compared to CT, makes PET-CT an attractive staging tool. The availability of a staging PET-CT scan also improves the accuracy of subsequent response assessment. 'Interim' PET-CT can be used to assess early response and end-of-treatment PET-CT assesses remission. Clinical trials are currently seeking to establish whether the predictive value of PET-CT can be successfully used to guide individual treatment to reduce toxicity and/or to improve outcomes. Standardized methods for performing and reporting PET have been developed in the context of trials. The role of PET in transplantation selection is currently evolving, as it appears to be more accurate and prognostic than CT. The role of FDG PET-CT throughout the management course in patients with lymphoma is explored in this review, with areas discussed that may limit the use of PET-CT imaging which clinicians should be familiar with to inform practice.

Controversies in the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma in children is a highly curable malignancy with current approaches utilizing combined modality therapy and a risk-adapted approach. The combination of anthracyclines, bleomycin, and radiotherapy, as well as other alkylating agents, are significant risk factors for secondary malignancies and cardiopulmonary toxicity. Therefore, current strategies aim to optimize cure rates while minimizing late effects. The role of radiotherapy has been examined in recent pediatric trials, with varying results. However, they provide evidence, as a whole, for the omission of radiotherapy for a subgroup of patients, without compromising outcomes.