Resection alone in 58 children with limited stage, lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma-experience from the European network group on pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma

Update on FDG-PET in pediatric lymphoma

Lymphoma represent the third most common malignant disease in childhood and adolescence. They are divided into pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (P-HL) and pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (P-NHL). In P-HL, excellent cure rates are achieved through combined modality treatment using chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For more than 20 years, FDG-PET has been an integral part of the treatment and guides its intensity through improved staging and precise assessment of chemotherapy response. In P-NHL, good cure rates are achieved with chemotherapy alone. At present FDG-PET plays only a subordinate role in the treatment setting. Its potential to contribute to treatment management is far from being fully utilised. In this article, the current status of FDG-PET in pediatric lymphoma is presented in detail. The core elements are the sections on staging and response assessment. In addition, challenges and pitfalls are discussed and future developments are outlined.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in adolescents and young adults with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: an IMPACT cohort study

We leveraged population-based clinical and healthcare data to identify treatment patterns and long-term outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). All Ontario, Canada, AYA aged 15-21 years at diagnosis with NLPHL between 1992 and 2012 were identified, and their detailed clinical data were collected. Linkage to healthcare databases identified additional events (subsequent malignant neoplasms [SMN], relapses and deaths). Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared by locus of care (adult vs. paediatric) and predictors of outcomes determined. Of 1014 AYA with Hodgkin lymphoma, 54 (5.3%) had NLPHL; 15 (27.8%) were treated at a paediatric centre. No paediatric centre patient received radiation only versus 16 (41.0%) of adult centre patients. Excision only was more common in paediatric centres (p < 0.001). The 20-year EFS and OS rates were 82.9% ± 5.2% and 100% respectively. Advanced stage (hazard ratio: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.3-18.4; p = 0.02) was associated with inferior EFS. Although the 25-year cumulative incidence of SMN was 19.3% ± 9.6% for the entire cohort, there were no SMN among the patients treated with excision only. AYA with NLPHL have outstanding long-term survival. Resection alone was rare outside of paediatric institutions but associated with excellent outcomes. Given substantial SMN risks, chemotherapy-sparing and radiation-sparing strategies for appropriate subsets of patients are warranted.

Management of children and adults with all stages of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma - All StAGEs: A consensus-based position paper from the Hodgkin lymphoma subgroup of the UK National Cancer Research Institute

A consensus statement for the management for patients of all ages with all stages of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) - All StAGEs - is proposed by representatives of the UK National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Hodgkin lymphoma study group and the Children's Cancer & Leukaemia Group. Based on current practices and published evidence, a consensus has been reached regarding diagnosis, staging and risk-ik7 stratified management which includes active surveillance, low- and standard-dose immunochemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The Grey Zones of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma

Simple Summary

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is a well-defined lymphoid neoplasm with a minority of characteristic neoplastic cells of B cell origin, namely Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg cells immersed in a rich reactive inflammatory infiltrate in the background. Although CHL has always been set apart from non-Hodgkin lymphomas, cases with morphological and phenotypic features intermediate between CHL and other lymphomas have been described. Whereas some of these lymphomas only represent morphological mimics, others exhibit mutational and gene expression profiles which overlap with CHL, indicating that these cases, frequently termed grey zone lymphomas, reside on the biological boundary between CHL and large B-cell lymphomas. In the present review, we aim to describe the current knowledge of these rare lymphomas, address diagnostic issues and summarize today’s concepts on the classification of grey zone lymphomas and related tumors.

Abstract

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is a well-defined neoplasm characterized by the presence of a minority of pathognomonic Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells in a reactive inflammatory background. Although genotypically of B cell origin, HRS cells exhibit a downregulated B cell program and therefore are set apart from other B cell lymphomas in the current WHO classification. However, cases with morphological and phenotypic features overlapping with CHL have been recognized, and the category of B cell lymphoma—unclassifiable—with features intermediate between diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and CHL, also termed grey zone lymphoma, was first introduced into the WHO classification in 2008 as provisional entity. These cases, as well as others raising a differential diagnosis of CHL can present diagnostic problems, as well as therapeutic challenges. Whereas some of these lymphomas only represent biologically unrelated morphological mimics, others, especially mediastinal grey zone lymphoma, exhibit genetic and gene expression profiles which overlap with CHL, indicating a true biological relationship. In this review, we address areas of diagnostic difficulties between CHL and other lymphoma subtypes, discuss the biological basis of true grey zone lymphoma based on recent molecular studies and delineate current concepts for the classification of these rare tumors.

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: Experience of Polish Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group

Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare clinical entity. To investigate NLPHL clinical course and treatment a survey was performed within Polish Pediatric Leukaemia/Lymphoma Study Group (PPLLSG) participating centers. A questionnaire was sent to all participating centers and analysis of clinical data was performed. From 2010 to 2019, 19 pediatric patients with confirmed NLPHL were registered in Poland. Median age of patients was 12.2 (5.5 - 17.8) years. NLPHL occurred mainly in males (n = 17). Most of the patients (n = 16) had early stage disease - Stage I (n = 6) and stage II (n = 10). Four of the six patients with stage I disease (I A, n = 5; I B, n = 1) underwent complete primary resection. One of these relapsed and was treated with CVP (cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, prednisone) chemotherapy. Two other patients who were not resected completely received CVP chemotherapy and no relapses were observed. Thirteen patients presented with unresectable disease. Of these, eight received three CVP chemotherapy cycles, and five were treated with other chemotherapy regimens. Three relapses were observed and these patients were further treated with chemotherapy and rituximab. One patient underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). All patients remain alive. Five-year progression-free survival and overall survival for the entire group of patients was 81.6% and 100%, respectively. NLPHL treatment results are consistent with results noted in other countries. Early stage patients have very good outcomes with surgery and observation or low intensity chemotherapy, but this approach may be insufficient in advanced disease.

When is surgical resection alone appropriate treatment for pediatric nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma?

The surgeon’s role in the management of lymphoma is typically limited to performing biopsies for diagnosis. Most patients with lymphoma are treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation, but in rare cases, lymphoma can be primarily treated with surgery. We present a case of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma in a 4-year-old child with cervical adenopathy and discuss initial treatment with surgery alone. Surgery as primary treatment avoids the serious long-term sequelae of chemotherapy and radiation, and reserves those options for possible future recurrences; however, this approach should be reserved for patients with limited and low-risk disease. This case report reviews the pros and cons of treating early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma in a pediatric patient with surgery alone.

Stage I-II nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: a multi-institutional study of adult patients by ILROG

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon histologic variant, and the optimal treatment of stage I-II NLPHL is undefined. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study including patients ≥16 years of age with stage I-II NLPHL diagnosed from 1995 through 2018 who underwent all forms of management, including radiotherapy (RT), combined modality therapy (CMT; RT+chemotherapy [CT]), CT, observation after excision, rituximab and RT, and single-agent rituximab. End points were progression-free survival (PFS), freedom from transformation, and overall survival (OS) without statistical comparison between management groups. We identified 559 patients with median age of 39 years: 72.3% were men, and 54.9% had stage I disease. Median follow-up was 5.5 years (interquartile range, 3.1-10.1). Five-year PFS and OS in the entire cohort were 87.1% and 98.3%, respectively. Primary management was RT alone (n = 257; 46.0%), CMT (n = 184; 32.9%), CT alone (n = 47; 8.4%), observation (n = 37; 6.6%), rituximab and RT (n = 19; 3.4%), and rituximab alone (n = 15; 2.7%). The 5-year PFS rates were 91.1% after RT, 90.5% after CMT, 77.8% after CT, 73.5% after observation, 80.8% after rituximab and RT, and 38.5% after rituximab alone. In the RT cohort, but not the CMT cohort, variant immunoarchitectural pattern and number of sites >2 were associated with worse PFS (P < .05). Overall, 21 patients (3.8%) developed large-cell transformation, with a significantly higher transformation rate in those with variant immunoarchitectural pattern (P = .049) and number of involved sites >2 (P = .0006). OS for patients with stage I-II NLPHL was excellent after all treatments.

Long-term follow-up of patients with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: A report from the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group

Nodular lymphocytic predominance Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a very uncommon subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), representing approximately 5% of all HL cases, with an incidence of 0.3/100,000 cases per year and with unique characteristics which distinguish it from classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Given its low frequency, there is a lack of prospective randomized studies to inform practice, the accumulated experience of academic groups being the main source of relevant information for the management of these patients. Eighty-five patients recruited by the Spanish Lymphoma Group (GOTEL) from 12 different hospitals were retrospectively analyzed to describe their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The median follow-up was 16 years, with a 10-year overall survive of 92.9% and 81.2% at 20 years. Five patients developed a second malignancy. No transformation to a more aggressive lymphoma was detected. A total of 31% tumor relapses was found: 77% in a single location; most of them at a supra-diaphragmatic level. Patients received different first-line treatments, and progression was observed in 3/4 (75%) of the patients who did not receive any type of treatment, 6/23 (26%) who received both chemotherapy (CH) and radiotherapy (RT), 12/43 (27%) who received RT and 7/15 (47%) that received only CH treatment. The mean time to relapse was 3 years and 47% presented relapses beyond 5 years (higher probability in stage IV p < 0.001). This is one of the longest follow-up series of NLPHL published, confirming its excellent prognosis, and that treatments may be adapted to reduce toxicity. Causes of death in these patients are varied, and the minority due to a primary malignancy relapses.

The stage-specific roles of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma patients: a propensity score-matched analysis of the SEER database

BACKGROUND

The stage-specific roles of radiotherapy (RT) alone, chemotherapy alone, and combined RT and chemotherapy (CRT) for patients with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) have not been adequately evaluated.

METHODS

We analyzed patients with all stages of NLPHL enrolled in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry from January 2000 to December 2015. Propensity score (PS) analysis with 1:1 matching (PSM) was performed to ensure the well-balanced characteristics of the comparison groups. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to evaluate the overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), hazard ratios (HRs), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Restricted mean survival times (RMST) were also used for the survival analyses.

RESULTS

For early-stage patients, CRT was associated with the best survival, the mean OS was significantly improved by approximately 20 months (20 m), and the risk of death was reduced by more than 80%, both before and after PSM (p < 0.05). For advanced-stage patients, none of RT alone, chemotherapy alone, or CRT had a significant effect on survival. Chemotherapy alone and CRT might be more beneficial for long-term survival (RMST120 m : neither RT nor chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone vs. CRT = 104 m vs. 111 m vs. 108 m). Subgroup analysis of patients with early-stage NLPHL showed that CRT was associated with better survival of elderly patients (improved OS = 43.8 m, HR = 0.14, p < 0.05). However, the survival benefits of treatments for young patients were not statistically significant. The efficacy of RT was significantly different between the age groups (pfor interaction  = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

These results from SEER data suggest that CRT may be considered for early-stage NLPHL, especially for elderly patients. Further studies are needed to identify effective treatments in patients with advanced-stage NLPHL.

Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, antigen-driven after all?

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) was suggested as an entity separate from other types of Hodgkin lymphoma 40 years ago and recognized in the WHO classification in 2001. Based on its relatively benign course with late distant relapses, relation with lymph node hyperplasia with progressively transformed germinal centers, presence of clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements with somatic hypermutations and ongoing mutations, and relation with a number of inherited defects affecting the immune system, it has been suspected that NLPHL might be antigen-driven. Recent evidence has shown that cases of IgD-positive NLPHL are associated with infection by Moraxella catarrhalis, a common bacterium in the upper respiratory tract and in lymph nodes. This review summarizes the evidence for NLPHL as a B-cell lymphoma involving follicular T-lymphocytes normally found in germinal centers, its molecular features and relation to inherited immune defects, and its relation and differential diagnosis from similar entities. Finally, it discusses the evidence that in many cases a watch and wait policy might be a viable initial management strategy. © 2020 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Improved survival for adolescents and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma and continued high survival for children in the Netherlands: a population-based study during 1990-2015

Population‐based studies that assess long‐term patterns of incidence, major aspects of treatment and survival are virtually lacking for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) at a younger age. This study assessed the progress made for young patients with HL (<25 years at diagnosis) in the Netherlands during 1990–2015. Patient and tumour characteristics were extracted from the population‐based Netherlands Cancer Registry. Time trends in incidence and mortality rates were evaluated with average annual percentage change (AAPC) analyses. Stage at diagnosis, initial treatments and site of treatment were studied in relation to observed overall survival (OS). A total of 2619 patients with HL were diagnosed between 1990 and 2015. Incidence rates increased for 18–24‐year‐old patients (AAPC + 1%, P = 0·01) only. Treatment regimens changed into less radiotherapy and more ‘chemotherapy only’, different for age group and stage. Patients aged 15–17 years were increasingly treated at a paediatric oncology centre. The 5‐year OS for children was already high in the early 1990s (93%). For patients aged 15–17 and 18–24 years the 5‐year OS improved from 84% and 90% in 1990–1994 to 96% and 97% in 2010–2015, respectively. Survival for patients aged 15–17 years was not affected by site of treatment. Our present data demonstrate that significant progress in HL treatment has been made in the Netherlands since 1990.

Active surveillance for nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare subtype of lymphoma that, like other Hodgkin lymphomas, has historically been treated aggressively. However, in most cases, NLPHL has an indolent course, which raises the question of to what extent these patients require aggressive upfront treatment. We describe the management and outcomes of consecutive NLPHL patients diagnosed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), with a focus on evaluating active surveillance. All patients aged 16 years or older diagnosed and followed at MSK between 1974 and 2016 were included. Treatment outcomes were compared between management with active surveillance and other strategies. We identified 163 consecutive patients who were treated with radiotherapy alone (46%), active surveillance (23%), chemotherapy (16%), combined modality (12%), or rituximab monotherapy (4%). Median follow-up was 69 months. Five-year progression-free survival (PFS), second PFS (PFS2), and overall survival (OS) estimates were 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78-90), 97% (95% CI, 92-99), and 99% (95% CI, 95-100), respectively. Only 1 of 7 deaths was lymphoma related. Patients managed with active surveillance had slightly shorter PFS than those receiving any active treatment, with 5-year PFS of 77% (95% CI, 56-89) vs 87% (95% CI, 79-92; P = .017). This difference did not translate into better PFS2 or OS. Only 10 patients managed with active surveillance (27%) eventually required treatment, after a median of 61 months, and none died. NLPHL has an excellent prognosis. Within the limitations of a retrospective analysis, active surveillance is a viable initial management strategy for selected NLPHL patients.

Outcomes in intermediate-risk pediatric lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group

PURPOSE

Optimal management of patients with intermediate-risk lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (LPHL) is unclear due to their small numbers in most clinical trials. Children's Oncology Group AHOD0031, a randomized phase III trial of pediatric patients with intermediate-risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), included patients with LPHL. We report the outcomes of these patients and present directions for future therapeutic strategies.

PROCEDURE

Patients received two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (ABVE-PC) followed by response evaluation. Slow early responders were randomized to two additional ABVE-PC cycles ± two dexamethasone, etoposide, cisplatin, and cytarabine cycles and all received involved field radiotherapy (IFRT). Rapid early responders (RERs) received two additional ABVE-PC cycles. RERs with complete response (CR) were randomized to IFRT or no further therapy. RERs without CR received IFRT.

RESULTS

Ninety-six (5.6%) of 1711 patients on AHOD0031 had LPHL. Patients with LPHL were more likely to achieve RER (93.6% vs. 81.0%; P = 0.002) and CR (74.2% vs. 49.3%; P = 0.000005) following chemotherapy compared with patients with classical HL. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) was superior in patients with LPHL (92.2%) versus classical HL (83.5%) (P = 0.04), without difference in overall survival (OS). Among RERs with CR following chemotherapy (n = 33), there was no difference in EFS or OS between those randomized to receive or not receive IFRT.

CONCLUSION

Children and adolescents with intermediate-risk LPHL represent ideal candidates for response-adapted therapy based on their favorable outcomes. The majority of patients treated with the ABVE-PC backbone achieve RER with CR status and can be treated successfully without IFRT.

Unfavorable presentation but comparable outcome: Presentation and outcome of children with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma from India

BACKGROUND

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with few published studies in children, entirely from North America and Europe. We analyzed clinical features and treatment outcome of pediatric NLPHL.

PROCEDURE

Children less than 18 years of age diagnosed after histopathology review to have NLPHL between June 1998 and August 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Descriptive details of clinical presentation and treatment were collected, and outcomes analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 42 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of NLPHL during this period, there was complete information on 35. Median age was 11 years (range 6-16 years), male:female ratio was 4.8:1, there were 15, 11, 6, and 3 patients with Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV disease, respectively. Six patients had B symptoms, 10 had bulky disease, and 3 had bone marrow as well as extranodal involvement. Histology was typical NLPHL in 23 and variant in 12. Twenty-nine received chemotherapy, 10 with additional radiation, 3 patients with early stage disease received only radiotherapy and three others underwent complete node resection alone. Median follow-up was 55 months (range 7-165 months), 5 year event-free survival (EFS) was 83.3%, and overall survival 97.1%. Variant NLPHL histology was associated with higher incidence of unfavorable presentation and lower EFS.

CONCLUSIONS

NLPHL in India has an excellent outcome, despite a higher incidence of unfavorable presentations such as advanced stage disease, B symptoms, and bulky disease. Variant histology is an adverse prognostic factor.

Nodular Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma in a 15-Year-Old Boy With Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Having a Germline TP53 D49H Mutation

Germline mutations in TP53 are the primary cause of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). Most mutations are reported within the DNA-binding domain. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy with LFS who developed early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare subtype of Hodgkin lymphomas. His sister was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 1.5 years. Sequence analysis revealed a germline mutation in the transactivation domain of TP53, c.145G>C (p.D49H), in the patient, his sister, and father. One family with LFS with a germline TP53 D49H mutation has previously been reported. This report supports the pathogenicity of this mutation.

Hodgkin lymphoma: A review and update on recent progress

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a unique hematopoietic neoplasm characterized by cancerous Reed-Sternberg cells in an inflammatory background. Patients are commonly diagnosed with HL in their 20s and 30s, and they present with supradiaphragmatic lymphadenopathy, often with systemic B symptoms. Even in advanced-stage disease, HL is highly curable with combination chemotherapy, radiation, or combined-modality treatment. Although the same doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine chemotherapeutic regimen has been the mainstay of therapy over the last 30 years, risk-adapted approaches have helped de-escalate therapy in low-risk patients while intensifying treatment for higher risk patients. Even patients who are not cured with initial therapy can often be salvaged with alternate chemotherapy combinations, the novel antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab, or high-dose autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The programmed death-1 inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab have both demonstrated high response rates and durable remissions in patients with relapsed/refractory HL. Alternate donor sources and reduced-intensity conditioning have made allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation a viable option for more patients. Future research will look to integrate novel strategies into earlier lines of therapy to improve the HL cure rate and minimize long-term treatment toxicities. CA Cancer J Clin 2018;68:116-132. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

[Update on nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma and related lesions]

The present article gives an overview of novel developments in the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma with reference to the revised WHO classification from 2016. Differential diagnoses that are discussed are progressively transformed germinal centers, T cell/histiocyte-rich large B cell lymphoma as well as transformation into a diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Minimal Treatment of Low-Risk, Pediatric Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group

PURPOSE

Children's Oncology Group study AHOD03P1 was designed to determine whether excellent outcomes can be maintained for patients with low-risk, pediatric lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (LPHL) with a strategy of resection alone or minimal chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with stage IA LPHL in a single node that was completely resected were observed without further therapy; recurrences were treated with three cycles of doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone/cyclophosphamide (AV-PC). Patients with unresected stage IA or stage IIA LPHL were treated with three cycles of AV-PC. Patients with less than a complete response (CR) to AV-PC received 21-Gy involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT).

RESULTS

A total of 183 eligible patients were enrolled; 178 were evaluable. Of these, 52 patients underwent complete resection of a single node. There were 13 relapses at a median of 11.5 months; 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 77% (range, 62% to 87%). A total of 135 patients received AV-PC; 126 were treated at diagnosis and nine at relapse after surgery alone. Eleven patients receiving AV-PC had less than CR and received IFRT. Fourteen first events occurred among 135 patients (12 relapses and two second malignancies). Two relapses occurred in patients who had received IFRT. Five-year EFS was 88.8% (95% CI, 81.8% to 93.2%). Five-year EFS for the entire cohort was 85.5% (95% CI, 79.2% to 90.1%); overall survival was 100%.

CONCLUSION

Some 75% of highly selected pediatric patients with LPHL may be spared chemotherapy after surgical resection alone. Pediatric LPHL has excellent EFS with chemotherapy that is less intensive than standard regimens; > 90% of patients can avoid radiation therapy. The salvage rate for the few relapses is high, with 100% survival overall.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma with distinct clinicopathologic features. It is typified by the presence of lymphocyte predominant (LP) cells, which are CD20(+) but CD15(-) and CD30(-) and are found scattered amongst small B lymphocytes arranged in a nodular pattern. Despite frequent and often late or multiple relapses, the prognosis of NLPHL is very favorable. There is an inherent risk of secondary aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and studies support that risk is highest in those with splenic involvement at presentation. Given disease rarity, the optimal management is unclear and opinions differ as to whether treatment paradigms should be similar to or differ from those for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL). This review provides an overview of the existing literature describing pathological subtypes, outcome and treatment approaches for NLPHL.

Relapsed or poorly responsive nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents - a report from the United Kingdom's Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Study Group

There is a paucity of data on the treatment outcome in children with relapsed or poorly responsive nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (nLPHL). This retrospective report evaluates the treatment outcome in a national cohort of children with relapsed or poorly responsive nLPHL. A total of 37 patients, 22 with relapsed and 15 with poorly responding disease, are the subjects of this report. Of the 22 patients with relapsed nLPHL, 11 had relapsed after primary excision biopsy, 10 after chemotherapy and 1 after chemotherapy and involved field radiotherapy. The majority had localized disease at relapse. The median time to relapse was 8 months after chemotherapy and 11 months after excision biopsy. Seven of the 15 patients with poorly responding nLPHL had variant histology. Three patients with initial poor response did not receive any further treatment and have had no disease progression. Transformation to diffuse large B cell lymphoma, in addition to evolution from typical to variant nLPHL occurred in one patient each. Thirty-four patients have been successfully re-treated with second chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Multiple relapses were uncommon but treatable. Relapse or poorly responsive nLPHL is fully salvageable with either additional chemotherapy and or radiotherapy.

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: a Lymphoma Study Association retrospective study

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma represents a distinct entity from classical Hodgkin lymphoma. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the management of patients with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of adult patients with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma were collected in Lymphoma Study Association centers. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed, and the competing risks formulation of a Cox regression model was used to control the effect of risk factors on relapse or death as competing events. Among 314 evaluable patients, 82.5% had early stage nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Initial management consisted in watchful waiting (36.3%), radiotherapy (20.1%), rituximab (8.9%), chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy (21.7%), combined modality treatment (12.7%), or radiotherapy plus rituximab (0.3%). With a median follow-up of 55.8 months, the 10-year PFS and OS estimates were 44.2% and 94.9%, respectively. The 4-year PFS estimates were 79.6% after radiotherapy, 77.0% after rituximab alone, 78.8% after chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy, and 93.9% after combined modality treatment. For the whole population, early treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but not rituximab alone (Hazard ratio 0.695 [0.320-1.512], P=0.3593) significantly reduced the risk of progression compared to watchful waiting (HR 0.388 [0.234-0.643], P=0.0002). Early treatment appears more beneficial compared to watchful waiting in terms of progression-free survival, but has no impact on overall survival. Radiotherapy in selected early stage nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, and combined modality treatment, chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy for other patients, are the main options to treat adult patients with a curative intent.

Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of the most curable pediatric and adult cancers, with long-term survival rates now exceeding 90% after treatment with chemotherapy alone or combined with radiotherapy (RT). Of note, global collaboration in clinical trials within cooperative pediatric HL study groups has resulted in continued progress; however, survivors of pediatric HL are at high risk of potentially life-limiting second cancers and treatment-associated cardiovascular disease. Over the last three decades, all major pediatric and several adult HL study groups have followed the paradigm of response-based treatment adaptation and toxicity sparing through the reduction or elimination of RT and tailoring of chemotherapy. High treatment efficacy is achieved using dose-dense chemotherapy. Refinement and reduction of RT have been implemented on the basis of results from collaborative group studies, such that radiation has been completely eliminated for certain subgroups of patients. Because pediatric staging and response criteria are not uniform, comparing the results of trial series among different pediatric and adult study groups remains difficult; thus, initiatives to harmonize criteria are desperately needed. A dynamic harmonization process is of utmost importance to standardize therapeutic risk stratification and response definitions as well as improve the care of children with HL in resource-restricted environments.

Race-specific features and outcomes of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base

BACKGROUND

The incidence of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is higher among African Americans than among other races, but to the authors' knowledge, the characteristics of NLPHL in this population have not been evaluated. The authors compared clinical features, treatments, and survival of black and white patients with NLPHL using the National Cancer Data Base.

METHODS

The authors extracted the records of 602 black and 1950 white patients with NLPHL who were diagnosed between 1998 and 2011. Overall survival (OS) was compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Black patients were on average younger than white patients (median age, 42 years vs 45 years; P =.0001), more often female (49% vs 29%; P<.0001), and more likely to have the axillary lymph nodes as the primary disease site (25% vs 17%; P =.0002). They also had unfavorable socioeconomic characteristics, a higher rate of no treatment in patients with early-stage disease, and a longer time to therapy initiation (median, 53.5 days vs 47 days; P<.0001). Despite this, the authors found no significant difference between the races with regard to stage distribution or survival (P =.39). OS at 7 years was 90.1% in patients with early-stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IA/B, IIA) and 79.4% in patients with advanced stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IIB, III/IV) NLPHL. Survival in the early stage of disease was not found to be significantly different after various treatment strategies (stratified log-rank P = .18), except that the administration of chemotherapy was associated with a better outcome in black patients (log-rank P =.011 vs P =.81 for white patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in clinical presentation suggest the interaction of race-specific and sex-specific susceptibility factors for NLPHL. Further research is needed to elucidate these factors, and to investigate possible heterogeneous effects of treatments by race. Clinical trials comparing standard treatment strategies are unlikely to detect differences in OS among patients with early-stage NLPHL.

Childhood and Adolescent nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma - A review of clinical outcome based on the histological variants

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (nLPHL) comprises approximately 10-12% of all childhood Hodgkin lymphoma. As the majority have low stage disease recent years have seen a de-escalation of treatment intensity to avoid treatment-related morbidity. This report evaluates treatment outcome in children with histopathological variants of nLPHL after therapy de-escalation. Biopsies from 60 patients were reviewed and histology categorized as typical (n = 47; 78%) or variant nLPHL (n = 13; 22%). Furthermore, presence of immunoglobulin D (IgD) expression by the lymphocyte predominant (LP) cells was assessed in 41 patients. Treatment outcomes were compared according to treatment received and histopathology of nLPHL. Compared to typical nLPHL, children with variant nLPHL had higher stage disease at diagnosis (stage III: 3/13; 23% vs. 3/47; 6%, P = 0·11), lower complete response rates (6/13; 46% vs. 38/47; 81%, P = 0·029) and higher relapse rates (2/13; 15% vs. 2/47; 4%, P = 0·20). Additionally, IgD expression by LP cells was associated with poorer treatment response and was more commonly seen in patients with variant nLPHL. (11/13; 85% vs. 15/28; 54%, P = 0·08). Variant histology appears to be indicative of a poorer prognosis in patients with early stage disease, and may be an important factor to take into account when moving towards reduced intensity treatment for nLPHL.

Incidence, management, and outcome of high-grade transformation of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: long-term outcomes from a 30-year experience

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare form of Hodgkin lymphoma that typically presents as early stage, indolent disease in young adult males. The relationship between NLPHL and DLBCL is incompletely understood, and there remains a paucity of data with regard the incidence and management of high-grade transformation. We report the largest study to date describing the incidence, management and long-term outcome of 26 cases of high-grade transformation of NLPHL over a 30-year period. We report a transformation incidence of 17.0%. Bone marrow, splenic, and liver infiltration with DLBCL was frequent. Patients with an aa-IPI 2-3 have poorer OS and PFS (P = 0.034 and P = 0.009, respectively). Although the approach to treatment was somewhat variable, typically young, otherwise fit patients received anthracycline-based induction, platinum-based consolidation with stem cell harvesting, followed by autologous SCT with BEAM conditioning. Long-term (5 year) PFS was over 60% with this approach, and comparable to our de novo DLBCL historical age and time period-matched cohort largely treated with CHOP-like chemotherapy alone. The transformation rate of 17.0% highlights the importance of accurate initial diagnosis, long-term follow-up, and re-biopsy at relapse.

Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin's Disease in Children: A Case Study and Review of the Literature

A three-year-old boy presented with an enlarging neck mass. Biopsy demonstrated IgD-positive nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), which was staged as IIa. The patient received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) with rituximab and had excellent results. NLPHL is a relatively rare disease that is biologically distinct from classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). NLPHL is a B-cell malignancy likely of germinal center origin that has an overall good prognosis and favorable response to treatment. Unlike cHL, NLPHL is ubiquitously CD20-positive. Recent evidence supports the efficacy of targeted anti-CD20 therapy in NLPHL, though prospective data is limited. This case demonstrates several unique features of NLPHL and further supports the use of rituximab in front-line therapy. The clinical characteristics among patients at various ages are discussed with a special focus on the IgD-positive subtype. A thorough literature search demonstrates this to be the youngest patient with NLPHL yet described.

Current approaches in the management of low risk Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents

The outcome for children and adolescents with low risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is excellent, with event-free survival >85% and overall survival >95%. Historically, however, treatment has come at the cost of significant long-term toxicity from chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these. Recent treatment strategies have focused on maintaining high event-free and overall survival while minimizing the use of therapy associated with late effects. The strategies used to achieve this vary greatly among paediatric cooperative groups and there is no one standard treatment for children with low risk HL. This review summaries recent clinical trials in paediatric low risk HL and addresses some of the important considerations when comparing trials, including differences in the definition of low risk HL, differences in outcome among histological subtypes and varying approaches to reduce or eliminate radiation therapy. Recommendations are provided for the treatment of children with low risk HL outside the setting of a clinical trial.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma versus those with classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a population-based analysis

PURPOSE

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is rare, comprising approximately 5% of all Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cases. Patients with NLPHL tend to have better prognoses than those with classical HL (CHL). Our goal was to assess differences in survival between NLPHL and CHL patients, controlling for differences in patient and disease characteristics.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Using data from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry program, we identified patients diagnosed with pathologically confirmed HL between 1988 and 2010.

RESULTS

We identified 1,162 patients with NLPHL and 29,083 patients with CHL. With a median follow-up of 7 years, 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91% and 83% for NLPHL, respectively, and 81% and 74% for CHL, respectively. After adjusting for all available characteristics, NLPHL (vs CHL) was associated with higher OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.62, P<.01) and disease-specific survival (DSS; HR: 0.48, P<.01). The male predominance of NLPHL, compared to CHL, as well as the more favorable prognostic features in NLPHL patients are most pronounced in NLPHL patients <20 years old. Among all NLPHL patients, younger patients were less likely to receive radiation, and radiation use has declined by 40% for all patients from 1988 to 2010. Receipt of radiation was associated with better OS (HR: 0.64, P=.03) and DSS (HR: 0.45, P=.01) in NLPHL patients after controlling for available baseline characteristics. Other factors associated with OS and DSS in NLPHL patients are younger age and early stage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results in a large population dataset demonstrated that NLPHL patients have improved prognosis compared to CHL patients, even after accounting for stage and baseline characteristics. Use of radiation is declining among NLPHL patients despite an association in this series between radiation and better DSS and OS. Unique treatment strategies for NLPHL are warranted in both early and advanced stage disease.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma

Pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly curable malignancy and potential long-term effects of therapy need to be considered in optimizing clinical care. An expert panel was convened to reach consensus on the most appropriate approach to evaluation and treatment of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every 2 years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment. Four clinical variants were developed to assess common clinical scenarios and render recommendations for evaluation and treatment approaches to pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma. We provide a summary of the literature as well as numerical ratings with commentary. By combining available data in published literature and expert medical opinion, we present a consensus to the approach for management of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma.

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.

How I treat nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon entity that, in contrast to classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), universally expresses CD20, a hallmark of the disease. The majority of the patients present with early-stage disease, and treatment with local radiation provides excellent disease control and overall survival (OS). For locally extensive or advanced stages, paradigms used for cHL have been employed, with similar outcomes. Unlike cHL, late relapses may occur, as well as a propensity to transform to an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that underscores the importance of long-term follow-up and rebiopsy at the time of relapse. Deaths caused by NLPHL are uncommon, and in older series, secondary malignancies and other treatment-related toxicities contributed appreciably to overall mortality. Expression of CD20 in NLPHL has led to the evaluation of rituximab as a therapeutic option. Although results with single-agent rituximab in the front-line setting are inferior to conventional therapy, rituximab is a reasonable choice for relapsed disease because of the high overall response rate and excellent tolerability. Most patients have a long OS; therefore, overall goals of therapy should be to minimize the risk for relapse and long-term toxicity.