Intensified treatment of patients with early stage, unfavourable Hodgkin lymphoma: long-term follow-up of a randomised, international phase 3 trial of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG HD14)

2-deoxy-2-[18F]FDG PET Imaging for Therapy Assessment in Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas

The 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) has contributed to outcome improvement of patients with lymphoma. The use of [18F]FDG PET/CT for staging and response assessment is successfully applied both in routine clinical practice and in clinical trials. The challenges lie in enhancing the outcomes of lymphoma patients, particularly those with advanced or refractory/relapsed disease, and to minimize the long-term toxicity associated with treatments, including radiation therapy. The objective of this review article is to present contemporary data on the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT for treatment assessment of aggressive lymphomas.

Hodgkin lymphoma: 2025 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoid malignancy affecting 8570 new patients annually and representing ~10% of all lymphomas in the United States.

DIAGNOSIS

HL is composed of two distinct disease entities: classical HL and nodular lymphocyte predominant HL (also called nodular lymphocyte predominant B-cell lymphoma). Nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depletion, and lymphocyte-rich HL are subgroups 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 (PET) 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 typically treated with combined modality strategies utilizing abbreviated courses of combination chemotherapy followed by involved-field radiation therapy, whereas those with advanced stage disease receive a longer course of chemotherapy often without radiation therapy. However, newer agents including brentuximab vedotin and anti-PD-1 antibodies are now standardly incorporated into frontline 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, PD-1 blockade, non-myeloablative allogeneic transplant or participation in a clinical trial should be considered.

Stage-adapted treatment of HIV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma: Long-term results of a prospective, multicenter study

Results of a prospective study of stage-adapted treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated Hodgkin lymphoma (HIV-HL) showed a 2-year overall survival (OS) of 90.7% with no significant difference between early favorable (EF), early unfavorable (EU), and advanced HL. Patients with EF HIV-HL received two to four cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) + 30 Gy involved field (IF) radiation, those with EU HIV-HL received four cycles of ABVD or BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) baseline + 30 Gy IF, and six to eight cycles of BEACOPP baseline were administered in advanced disease. The objective of the present analysis is to determine long-term outcomes of HIV-HL. Of 108 patients, 23 (21%) had EF HL, 14 (13%) had EU HL, and 71 (66%) had advanced-stage HL. After a median follow-up of 9.14 (range, 0-12.9) years, there were five primary refractory HL patients (5%) and 11 relapses (10%), of which seven were late relapses (>2 years). A second primary malignancy (SPM) occurred in 10 patients after a median of 7.3 years (range, 1.5-10.7) from HL diagnosis. The 10-year OS for patients with EF, EU, and advanced HL was 95.7%, 84.6%, and 76.1%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, Center for Disease Control and Prevention category C (hazard ratio [HR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-7.74, p = 0.023) and achievement of complete remission were significant for OS (HR 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01-0.08, p = 2.45 × 10-9). In conclusion, a stage-adapted treatment approach for HIV-HL is highly effective with long-term survival rates similar to those reported in HIV-uninfected HL. However, the risk for late relapse and SPM is significant.

[Current Standards in the Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma]

This review discusses current trends in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, focusing on optimizing therapy outcomes while minimizing toxicity. We summarize advances made by the incorporation of Brentuximab Vedotin into first line therapy for advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma. Similarly, the incorporation of checkpoint-inhibition into first-line therapy holds great promise and early results suggest superior efficacy with reduced toxicity. In relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation remains the standard approach. However, the remarkable efficacy of checkpoint inhibition in this setting has the potential to redefine treatment paradigms and obviate the need for HD-ASCT in select patients. Finally, we discuss the evolving landscape of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and reclassification to nodular lymphocyte predominant B-cell lymphoma, with increasing recognition of its distinct characteristics and treatment strategies.

Pembrolizumab plus vorinostat induces responses in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma refractory to prior PD-1 blockade

This phase 1 study evaluated the addition of vorinostat to pembrolizumab in patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma. We report the results in cases of cHL. Adult patients with RR cHL who had received ≥1 prior lines of therapy and were ineligible for transplantation were treated in a dose-escalation cohort with 2 dose levels (DLs) and then on an expansion cohort at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) in 21-day cycles. Vorinostat 100 mg twice a day (DL1) and 200 mg twice a day (DL2) was administered orally from days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12; all patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg IV every 3 weeks. The primary end point was safety and determination of RP2D. In total, 32 patients with cHL were enrolled, including 30 at DL2 (RP2D); 78% had received prior anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy, and 56% were PD-1 refractory. Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) included hypertension (9%), neutropenia (9%), hypophosphatemia (9%), thrombocytopenia (6%), and lymphopenia (6%). Immune-related AEs included grade 1 or 2 thyroiditis (13%), grade 1 rash (6%), and grade 3 esophagitis/duodenitis (3%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 72% and complete response (CR) rate was 34%. Patients refractory to prior PD-1 blockade (n = 18) had ORR and CR rates of 56% and 11%, respectively. Pembrolizumab and vorinostat was well tolerated with a high ORR rate in RR cHL including in anti-PD-1-refractory disease. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03150329.

Brentuximab Vedotin Plus AVD for First-Line Treatment of Early-Stage Unfavorable Hodgkin Lymphoma (BREACH): A Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized, Phase II Trial

PURPOSE

The prognosis of patients with early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma remains unsatisfactory. We assessed the efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (BV-AVD) in previously untreated, early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02292979).

METHODS

BREACH is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase II trial. Eligible patients were age 18-60 years with ≥ 1 unfavorable EORTC/LYSA criterion. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to four cycles of BV-AVD or standard doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, and dacarbazine (ABVD), followed by 30 Gy involved node radiotherapy. The primary end point was the positron emission tomography (PET) response rate after two cycles by expert independent review using the Deauville score. The study was designed to test if the PET-negative rate after two cycles of BV-AVD was superior to 75%. We hypothesized a 10% increase in the PET-negative rate after two cycles of BV-AVD.

RESULTS

Between March 2015 and October 2016, 170 patients were enrolled. After two cycles, the primary end point of the study was met: 93 (82.3%; 90% CI, 75.3 to 88.0) of 113 patients in the BV-AVD arm were PET-negative (Deauville score 1-3) compared with 43 (75.4%; 90% CI, 64.3% to 84.5%) of 57 in the ABVD arm. The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 97.3% (95% CI, 91.9 to 99.1) and 92.6% (95% CI, 81.4% to 97.2%) in the BV-AVD and ABVD arms, respectively. High total metabolic tumor volume was associated with a significantly shorter PFS (hazard ratio, 17.9; 95% CI, 2.2 to 145.5; P < .001). For patients with high total metabolic tumor volume, the 2-year PFS rate was 90.9% (95% CI, 74.4 to 97.0) and 70.7% (95% CI, 39.4% to 87.9%) in the BV-AVD and ABVD arms, respectively.

CONCLUSION

BV-AVD demonstrated an improvement in the PET-negative rate compared with ABVD after two cycles.

Minimising the Toxicities of First Line Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment in the Modern Era

Striking advances in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma over the last 30 years have culminated in high rates of disease-free survival in younger patients with early and advanced stage disease. In this review we focus on strategies that have evolved over recent years to reduce short and long-term toxicities of treatment. These strategies include the selection of first-line chemotherapy, the stratification of patients based on initial response and subsequent adaptation of treatment, the addition of novel agents (e.g., brentuximab vedotin), the removal of specific drugs (e.g., bleomycin), the use of drug substitution, and the removal of consolidation radiotherapy based on interim and end of treatment PET assessment. While these strategies have successfully reduced toxicity of Hodgkin lymphoma therapy, the cornerstone of treatment continues to be combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy with significant short- and long-term side effects. To further reduce toxicity while maintaining or improving efficacy, we shall need to incorporate novel agents into our first-line treatment algorithms, and several such potentially practice-changing trials are underway.

Hodgkin lymphoma: 2023 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoid malignancy affecting 8540 new patients annually and representing approximately 10% of all lymphomas in the United States.

DIAGNOSIS

HL is composed of two distinct disease entities: classical HL and nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL. Nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depletion, and lymphocyte-rich HL are subgroups 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 typically treated with combined modality strategies utilizing 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. However, newer agents, including brentuximab vedotin and anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibodies, are now being incorporated into frontline 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, PD-1 blockade, non-myeloablative allogeneic transplant, or participation in a clinical trial should be considered.

Nomogram model and risk score predicting overall survival and guiding clinical decision in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma: an observational study using SEER population-based data

INTRODUCTION

This study developed a prognostic nomogram of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) for purpose of discussing independent risk factors for HL patients with Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.

METHODS

We collected data of HL patients from 2010 to 2015 from the SEER database and divided it into two cohorts: the training and the verification cohort. Then the univariate and the multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted in the training, the verification as well as the total cohort, after which the intersection of variables with statistical significance was taken as independent risk factors to establish the nomogram. The predictive ability of the nomogram was validated by the Concordance Index. Additionally, the calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic curve were implemented to evaluate the accuracy and discrimination. Finally, we obtained 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates of HL patients.

RESULTS

10 912 patients were eligible for the study. We discovered that Derived American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage Group, lymphoma subtype, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were four independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of HL patients. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates for high-risk patients were 85.4%, 79.9% and 76.0%, respectively. It was confirmed that patients with stage I or II had a better prognosis. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy had a positive impact on HL outcomes. However, patients with lymphocyte-depleted HL were of poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram we constructed could better predict the prognosis of patients with HL. Patients with HL had good long-term outcomes but novel therapies are still in need for fewer complications.

Management of herpesvirus reactivations in patients with solid tumours and hematologic malignancies: update of the Guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) on herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and varicella zoster virus

Clinical reactivations of herpes simplex virus or varicella zoster virus occur frequently among patients with malignancies and manifest particularly as herpes simplex stomatitis in patients with acute leukaemia treated with intensive chemotherapy and as herpes zoster in patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma. In recent years, knowledge on reactivation rates and clinical manifestations has increased for conventional chemotherapeutics as well as for many new antineoplastic agents. This guideline summarizes current evidence on herpesvirus reactivation in patients with solid tumours and hematological malignancies not undergoing allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or other cellular therapy including diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic aspects. Particularly, strategies of risk adapted pharmacological prophylaxis and vaccination are outlined for different patient groups. This guideline updates the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) from 2015 "Antiviral prophylaxis in patients with solid tumours and haematological malignancies" focusing on herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus.

Informing radiotherapy decisions in stage I/IIa Hodgkin lymphoma: modeling life expectancy using radiation dosimetry

In recent randomized trials, omitting consolidative radiotherapy (RT) in early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (ESHL) increased relapses. However, decades of follow-up are required to observe whether lower initial disease control is compensated by reduced risk of late effects. Extrapolation beyond trial follow-up is therefore necessary to inform current treatment decisions. To this end, we developed a microsimulation model to estimate lifetime quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) after combined modality treatment (CMT) or chemotherapy-alone for stage I/IIa ESHL. For CMT, the model included risks of breast and lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and ischemic stroke. Comparative outcomes were assessed for a clinically relevant range of example patients differing by age, sex, smoking status, and representative organs at risk (OAR) radiation doses informed by the RAPID trial. Analysis was performed with and without a 3.5% discount rate on future health. Smoking status had a large effect on optimal treatment choice. CMT was superior for nearly all never smoker example patients regardless of age, sex, and OAR doses. At a maximum, CMT produced a 1.095 (95% CI: 1.054-1.137) gain in undiscounted QALYs for a 20-year-old male never smoker with unilateral neck disease. In contrast, current smokers could substantially gain from chemotherapy-alone treatment. Again at a maximum, a 20-year-old male current smoker with bilateral neck and whole mediastinum involvement gained 3.500 (95% CI: 3.400 to 3.600) undiscounted QALYs with chemotherapy-alone treatment. Overall, CMT was more favorable the younger the patient, when future health discounting was included, and in never smokers.