Treatment outcome in patients younger than 60 years with advanced stages (IIB-IV) of Hodgkin's disease: the Swedish National Health Care Programme experience

Contemporarily Treated Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma Have Childbearing Potential in Line With Matched Comparators

Purpose With excellent cure rates for young patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), there is an increasing number of female survivors of HL interested in becoming pregnant. Here, we report childbearing among contemporarily treated HL survivors in comparison with the general population. Material and Methods Using Swedish registers, 449 women (ages 18 to 40 years) diagnosed with HL between 1992 and 2009 and in remission 9 months after diagnosis were identified. Patients were age- and calendar-year-matched to 2,210 population comparators. Rates of first postdiagnosis childbirth were calculated. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were estimated for different follow-up periods using Cox regression. Cumulative probabilities of first childbirth were calculated in the presence of the competing risk of death or relapse. Results Twenty-two percent of relapse-free patients with HL had a child during follow-up, and first childbirth rates increased over time, from 40.2 per 1,000 person-years (1992 to 1997) to 69.7 per 1,000 person-years (2004 to 2009). For comparators, childbirth rates remained stable (70.1 per 1,000 person-years). Patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 had a cumulative probability of childbirth similar to comparators. Three years or more after diagnosis, no differences in childbirth rates were observed between patients and comparators, regardless of stage or treatment. Patients who received six to eight courses of bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone had a lower childbirth rate than comparators during the first 3 years (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.94), as did patients who received six to eight courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (HR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.65). Conclusion Childbearing potential among female survivors of HL has improved over time, and childbirth rates 3 years after diagnosis in contemporarily treated patients are, in the absence of relapse, similar to those in the general population, regardless of stage and treatment.

Pregnancy and the Risk of Relapse in Patients Diagnosed With Hodgkin Lymphoma

PURPOSE

Many patients and clinicians are worried that pregnancy after the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) may increase the risk of relapse despite a lack of empirical evidence to support such concerns. We investigated if an association exists between pregnancy and relapse in women with a diagnosis of HL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using Swedish healthcare registers combined with medical records, we included 449 women who received a diagnosis of HL between 1992 and 2009 and who were age 18 to 40 years at diagnosis. Follow-up started 6 months after diagnosis, when the patients' condition was assumed to be in remission. Pregnancy-associated relapse was defined as a relapse during pregnancy or within 5 years after delivery. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were estimated by using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Among the 449 women, 144 (32%) became pregnant during follow-up. Overall, 47 relapses were recorded, of which one was a pregnancy-associated relapse. The adjusted HR for the comparison of the pregnancy-associated relapse rate to the non-pregnancy-associated relapse rate was 0.29 (95% CI, 0.04 to 2.18). The expected number of relapses in women with a recent pregnancy, given that they would experience the same relapse rate as that of women without a recent pregnancy, was 3.76; the observed-to-expected ratio was 0.27 (95% exact CI, 0.01 to 1.51).

CONCLUSION

We found no evidence that a pregnancy after diagnosis increases the relapse rate among women whose HL is in remission. Survivors of HL need to consider a range of factors when deciding about future reproduction. However, given the results of this study, the risk of pregnancy-associated relapse does not need to be considered.

Hodgkin lymphoma--a survey of children and adolescents treated in Sweden 1985-2009

BACKGROUND

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in children constitutes approximately 30% of all pediatric lymphomas in Sweden. The chance of cure is high, but the frequency of late effects has been considerable. Over recent years, efforts have been made to reduce treatment with maintained survival.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All patients 0-17 years, identified in the Swedish Childhood Cancer Register as diagnosed between 1985 and 2009, were included. The material was analyzed using descriptive statistics and for survival estimates the Kaplan-Meier method was used.

RESULTS

Three hundred and thirty-four patients were identified during this time period. The median age was 14 years. Male sex was over-represented, especially in lower age groups and in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). In nodular sclerosis and in age group 15-17 years, female sex dominated. Most of the cases presented in stages I or II. B-symptoms were present in 38% of cHL, but only in 7% of NLPHL. The number of patients receiving radiotherapy has been significantly reduced during the period studied. The relapse rate in cHL was 10 ± 2% and in NLPHL 16 ± 7%. The relapse rate was significantly higher in cHL stage IIB compared to other stages in the same therapy group. In cHL 6% died, and in NLPHL 0%. The 5-, 10- and 20-year overall survival estimates in cHL were 96 ± 1%, 95 ± 1% and 90 ± 3%, respectively, with no significant difference when comparing different treatment regimens and time periods. The 5- and 10-year overall survival after relapse in cHL was 81 ± 8% and 75 ± 10%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

During the period studied there is no indication of a decline in survival despite changes in treatment. Survival rates in Sweden are high, and even after relapse chances of cure are high. We were not able to identify any characteristics specific for the group of patients that did not survive.

Progress in Hodgkin lymphoma: a population-based study on patients diagnosed in Sweden from 1973-2009

In recent decades, attention has focused on reducing long-term, treatment-related morbidity and mortality in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In the present study, we looked for trends in relative survival for all patients diagnosed with HL in Sweden from 1973-2009 (N = 6949; 3985 men and 2964 women; median age, 45 years) and followed up for death until the end of 2010. Patients were categorized into 6 age groups and 5 calendar periods (1973-1979, 1980-1986, 1987-1994, 1994-2000, and 2001-2009). Relative survival improved in all age groups, with the greatest improvement in patients 51-65 years of age (P < .0005). A plateau in relative survival was observed in patients below 65 years of age during the last calendar period, suggesting a reduced long-term, treatment-related mortality. The 10-year relative survival for patients diagnosed in 2000-2009 was 0.95, 0.96, 0.93, 0.80, and 0.44 for the age groups 0-18, 19-35, 36-50, 51-65, and 66-80, respectively. Therefore, despite progress, age at diagnosis remains an important prognostic factor (P < .0005). Advances in therapy for patients with limited and advanced-stage HL have contributed to an increasing cure rate. In addition, our findings support that long-term mortality of HL therapy has decreased. Elderly HL patients still do poorly, and targeted treatment options associated with fewer side effects will advance the clinical HL field.

IL-9 expression contributes to the cellular composition in Hodgkin lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

The presence of numerous mast cells or eosinophils in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) tumours have both been described as negative prognostic factors. One cytokine related to HL is interleukin-9 (IL-9) and it is known to affect both mast cells and eosinophils. The aim of this study was to explore if the expression of IL-9 correlates to the presence of these inflammatory cells in HL tumours.

METHODS

In 131 HL biopsies, immunostainings for IL-9 and IL-9 receptor (IL-9R) were performed. The same material was previously stained for mast cells and eosinophils. These data were correlated to clinical and survival data from all patients.

RESULTS

Fifty-three percent of cases were positive for IL-9 and 19% were positive for IL-9R in the cytoplasm of the tumour cells. The IL-9 positive patients had more eosinophils (P = 0.002) and mast cells (P = 0.02) in their tumours, more often a nodular sclerosis histology (P < 0.0001), a higher white-blood-cell count (P = 0.006) and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.003) at the time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-9 expression is related to the histology, clinical picture and the presence of eosinophils and mast cells in HL. These results indicate that IL-9 is an important part of the cytokine network and inflammatory infiltrate in HL.

Estimating the optimal utilization rates of radiotherapy for hematologic malignancies from a review of the evidence

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to estimate the ideal proportion of new patients with lymphoma who should receive radiotherapy at some time during the course of their illness, based on the best evidence.

METHODS

Available evidence of the efficacy of radiotherapy in most clinical situations for lymphoma were identified through extensive literature reviews and treatment guideline searches. Epidemiologic data concerning the distribution of histologic type, disease stage, and other factors that influence the use of radiotherapy were identified. Decision trees were constructed to merge the evidence-based recommendations with the epidemiologic data to calculate the optimal proportion of patients who should receive radiotherapy according to the best available evidence. Actual radiotherapy utilization rates also were identified.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients with lymphoma in Australia that should receive radiotherapy at some point in their management, according to the best available evidence, was calculated at 65.0%. Multivariate analysis with a Monte Carlo simulation yielded a radiotherapy utilization rate of 64.4%. The actual utilization rates of radiotherapy for lymphoma reported in clinical practice were 22-29%, substantially lower than the optimal rate calculated in this project.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research will be required to identify why more patients who are diagnosed with lymphoma are not treated with radiotherapy.

Mid- and post-ABVD gallium scanning predicts for recurrence in early-stage Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) for patients with Hodgkin's disease and to identify predictors of outcome with this regimen.

METHODS

Between 1987 and 1998, 175 patients with Stage I-IV Hodgkin's disease received ABVD as part of initial treatment. Overall survival (OS), freedom-from-treatment-failure (FFTF), and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier technique. Log-rank tests were used to identify univariate predictors of OS, FFTF, and PFS. Specifically, restaging gallium scan results and clinical response after chemotherapy were separately evaluated.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 64 months. The 5-year OS, FFTF, and PFS rates were 90%, 85%, and 82%, respectively. For Stage I-II patients, restaging gallium scan results and clinical response after chemotherapy were highly predictive of OS, FFTF, and PFS (p < 0.0001). Other significant predictors for higher OS included age <50 (p = 0.002), female gender (p = 0.047), and absence of B symptoms (p = 0.043). Of the 20 patients with a positive restaging gallium scan, 4 received high-dose therapy and 16 continued with conventional-dose therapy or received no further treatment. Of these 16 patients, 11 (69%) were disease-free at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a positive mid- or postchemotherapy gallium scan was an adverse prognostic factor for OS, FFTF, and PFS, continued treatment with conventional-dose therapy may be adequate in selected patients with positive scans.

Bystander cells and prognosis in Hodgkin lymphoma. Review based on a doctoral thesis

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterised histologically by a minority of malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells surrounded by benign cells, and clinically by a relatively good prognosis. The treatment, however, leads to a risk of serious side effects. Knowledge about the biology of the disease, particularly the interaction between the HRS cells and the surrounding cells, is essential in order to improve diagnosis and treatment. HL patients with abundant eosinophils in the tumours have a poor prognosis, therefore the eosinophil derived protein eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) was studied. Serum-ECP (S-ECP) was elevated in most HL patients. It correlated to number of tumour eosinophils, nodular sclerosis (NS) histology, and the negative prognostic factors high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and blood leukocyte count (WBC). A polymorphism in the ECP gene (434(G>C)) was identified and the 434GG genotype correlated to NS histology and high ESR. The poor prognosis in patients with abundant eosinophils in the tumours has been proposed to depend on HRS cell stimulation by the eosinophils via a CD30 ligand (CD30L)-CD30 interaction. However, CD30L mRNA and protein were detected in mast cells and the predominant CD30L expressing cell in HL is the mast cell. Mast cells were shown to stimulate HRS cell lines via CD30L-CD30 interaction. The number of mast cells in HL tumours correlated to worse relapse-free survival, NS histology, high WBC, and low blood haemoglobin. Survival in patients with early and intermediate stage HL, diagnosed between 1985 and 1992, was generally favourable and comparatively limited treatment was sufficient to produce acceptable results for most stages. The majority of relapses could be salvaged. Patients treated with a short course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy had an excellent outcome. In conclusion prognosis is favourable in early and intermediate stages and there are possibilities for further improvements based on the fact that mast cells and eosinophils affect the biology and prognosis of HL.

Bulky disease is the most important prognostic factor in Hodgkin lymphoma stage IIB

The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment results for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients younger than 60 yr in stage IIB, treated according to the Swedish National Care Programme. The intention was also to identify specific subgroups depending on the number of negative prognostic factors the patients have, in order to optimise and differentiate future treatment. In total, 99 patients with HL stage IIB, diagnosed between 1985 and 1994, have been analysed. There were 47 men and 52 women and the median age was 33 yr (range 17-59). Eighty-six patients presented with supradiaphragmatic disease and 13 with infradiaphragmatic. The HL specific and overall 10-yr survival was 73 and 65%, respectively. The HL-specific survival for patients in pathological stage IIB tended to be better, although not statistically significant than for clinical stage IIB, despite less chemotherapy (P = 0.1). The patients in stage IIB who were selected for laparotomy were, however, younger and with fewer negative prognostic factors. The only significant negative prognostic factor was bulky disease (P = 0.001). The following factors also tended to have a negative influence on the prognosis although not statistically significant: the International Prognostic Score, the number of involved lymph node stations, extranodal involvement and leucocyte count > 15 x 10(9)/L. In conclusion, we suggest that bulky disease should be taken into account when treating patients with stage IIB HL.

Early and intermediate stage Hodgkin's lymphoma--report from the Swedish National Care Programme

In Sweden a National Care Programme provides treatment principles for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) since 1985, for early and intermediate stages often less extensive than international recommendations. The purpose is to evaluate long-term results of these principles. A total of 308 patients (167 men and 141 women), 17-59 yr old (median 31), diagnosed during 1985-92, pathological stage (PS) I-III1A and I-IIB and clinical stage (CS) I-IIA, mean follow-up 8.8 yr, were studied. Staging laparotomy was recommended in CS IIA. Recommended treatment was mantle or mini-mantle radiotherapy (RT) alone in CS IA, and PS I-IIA and subtotal nodal irradiation in PS III1A if the disease was not bulky. Patients in PS I-IIA and III1A with bulky disease, and PS I-IIB received one cycle of mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone, procarbazine/doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, lacarbazine (MOPP/ABVD) before irradiation. The remaining patients received three to four cycles of MOPP/ABVD with RT to bulky disease. Relapse-free (RFS), Hodgkin specific (HLS), and overall survival (OS) at 10 yr were 74%, 92% and 85%. In the individual stages, RFS ranged from 53% (PSIII1A) to 90% (PS IA). RFS (P = 0.006), HLS, and OS were significantly better in patients treated with chemotherapy compared with those treated with RT alone, especially in patients with bulky disease (P = 0.0005). The international prognostic score did not provide any prognostic information. The OS rates are in agreement with results from international centres during that time. The recommended treatment was sufficient to produce the desired results of <20-30% recurrences, except in PS III1A. Most relapses could be salvaged. Patients with risk factors treated with one MOPP/ABVD and RT had an excellent outcome, superior to those without risk factors treated with RT alone. These results favour the trend to treat early and intermediate stages with a short course of chemotherapy followed by limited RT.

A novel B-cell line (U-2932) established from a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following Hodgkin lymphoma

Little is known about mechanisms leading to secondary non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in patients treated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Our aim was to characterise in detail a cell line derived from a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that had developed in a patient with relapsing HL. The cell line U-2932 was established from ascites in a patient suffering from DLBCL previously treated for HL with multiple chemotherapy regimens. Characterisation was based on morphology, immunophenotype, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-status, IgH gene rearrangement status, tumourigenicity, p53 sequencing, and immunohistochemical expression of p53, BCL-2 and BCL-6. The karyotype was investigated using G-banding, comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) and spectral karyotype (SKY) analysis. This cell line shows typical morphological features of a DLBCL and grows as colonies in nude mice. It expresses a B-cell phenotype with a somatically hypermutated V(H)4-39 gene and is negative for EBV. The origin of U-2932 was confirmed by demonstrating an identical V(H)4 rearrangement in ascites from the patient. A point mutation of the tumour-suppressor gene p53 was detected in amino acid position 176 and immunohistochemical over-expression of the p53 protein was also demonstrated. U-2932 carries a complex karyotype including high-level amplifications of the chromosomal bands 18q21 and 3q27 and expresses aberrant BCL-2 and BCL-6 immunohistochemically. We were unable to investigate the clonal relationship between the original HL and U-2932. In conclusion, U-2932 is a unique B cell line established from a patient suffering from HL followed by NHL. Overexpression of BCL-2, BCL-6 and p53 may play a role in the tumourigenesis and drug resistance. This cell line may become a useful tool to better understand the mechanisms responsible for development of secondary NHL in patients treated for HL.

A population-based study of the outcome for patients with first relapse of Hodgkin's lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Our aims were to evaluate the response to salvage treatment in relation to initial treatment and to evaluate prognostic factors at the time of relapse in an unselected population of relapsing patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 124 patients younger than 60 yr of age with initial diagnosis of HL in Sweden relapsed between 1985 and 1995.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight patients relapsed after initial treatment with radiotherapy (RT) only, 62 after combination chemotherapy (CT), of whom 30 had received additional involved-field RT, and four after a short course of CT followed by extended-field RT. For 37 patients among the 58 relapsers after initial RT treated according to the recommendations of the National guidelines, the 5-yr Hodgkin-specific survival (HLS) was 85%, overall survival (OS) 73% and event-free survival (EFS) 62%, which is not inferior to survival in patients with primarily advanced stages. It was poorer in the 21 patients who initially had received RT only, even though they had been recommended for more extensive treatment. For patients initially treated with a full course (6-8 cycles) of CT the 5-yr HLS was 60%, OS 58% and EFS 22%. Bulky disease and age at diagnosis strongly affected survival in a multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients initially treated with RT who relapse have a favourable outcome, provided they have been treated according to the recommendations of the guidelines at the time of diagnosis. Initially bulky disease and, as a consequence, additional RT as part of the initial treatment negatively affect survival at relapse in patients initially treated with a full course of CT.