Nodular type of lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease. A clinical study of 50 cases

[Strategy of the French Society of Childhood Cancer (SFCE) for pediatric nodular lymphocyte predominant lymphoma]

Nodular Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) are rare lymphomas in pediatric patients comprising less than 10 % of all Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). They are for the most part diagnosed at stage I or II and indolent with lymphadenopathy often preceding the diagnosis by many months/years. Survival is excellent. Historically, patients were treated according to classical HL protocols. Due to high toxicity and excellent prognosis, management of NLPHL shifted to de-escalation protocol with good results. No treatment beyond surgical resection was proposed for localized unique nodal disease completely resected. The closed European protocol (EuroNet PHL LP1) evaluated the efficacy of low intensity chemotherapy protocol based on CVP courses (cyclophosphamide vinblastine prednisone) for stage IA/IIA not fully resected. Final results are not yet available. Advanced stage NLPHL are rare and there is no clinical trial and no consensus treatment in children. The SFCE lymphoma committee recently established recommendations for staging and treatment of limited and advanced NLPHL in children based on current practices and published results. The goal was to allow homogeneous practice on a national scale. If incomplete resection for patients with stage I/IIA combination of low intensity chemotherapy (CVP) and rituximab is recommended. For intermediary and advanced stage intensification with AVD (adriamycine vinblastine dacarbazine) or CHOP courses (cyclophosphamide doxorubicine vincristine prednisone) combined with rituximab are advocated. In children, there is no indication for first-line local treatment with radiotherapy.

Early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: the impact of radiotherapy on overall survival

The purpose of this study was to use the National Cancer Database to examine the association between radiation therapy (RT) and overall survival (OS) in early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) using standard and propensity score (PS)-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. From 1998-2011, 1915 patients with stage I/II NLPHL were studied, with a median follow-up of 6.6 years (median age = 44). Of the cohort, 1224(64%) received RT (alone or with chemotherapy) to a median dose of 30.6 Gy. Patients were more likely to receive RT if male, younger age, lower stage, no "B"-symptoms, favorably insured, and treatment at comprehensive centers (all p < 0.05). Patients administered RT had an improved 5-year OS (HR = 0.62; 95%CI, 0.43-0.89, p = 0.01). After PS-matching (n = 868) based on all known co-variates, RT use trended towards improved OS (HR = 0.49; 95%CI, 0.23-1.05, p = 0.06). This study represents one of the largest prospective datasets examining the role of RT for stage I/II NLPHL and inclusion of RT may be considered.

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.

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.

Performance of FDG PET/CT at initial diagnosis in a rare lymphoma: nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

PURPOSE

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare Hodgkin lymphoma distinguished from classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) by the nature of the neoplastic cells which express B-cell markers. We wanted to determine the diagnostic performance of FDG PET/CT in initial assessment and its therapeutic impact on staging.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied a population of 35 patients with NLPHL (8 previously treated for NLHPL, 27 untreated). All patients underwent an initial staging by pretherapeutic FDG PET/CT. The impact on initial stage or relapse stage was assessed by an independent physician.

RESULTS

In a per-patient analysis, the sensitivity of the pretherapeutic FDG PET/CT was 100%. In a per-site analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of pretherapeutic FDG PET/CT were 100%, 99%, 97%, 100% and 99%, respectively. Pretherapeutic FDG PET/CT led to a change in the initial stage/relapse stage in 12 of the 35 patients (34%). In contrast to previous results established without FDG PET/CT, 20% of patient had osteomedullary lesions.

CONCLUSION

Pretherapeutic FDG PET/CT has excellent performance for initial staging or relapse staging of NLPHL.

Nodular lymphocyte predominant hodgkin lymphoma: biology, diagnosis and treatment

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon variant of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. It is characterized histologically by presence of lymphohistiocytic cells which have B-cell phenotype, are positive for CD19, CD20, CD45, CD79a, BOB.1, Oct.2, and negative for CD15 and CD30. Patients often present with early stage of disease and do not have classical B symptoms. The clinical behavior appears to mimic that of an indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma more than that of classical Hodgkin disease. The purpose of the present report is to define the biology of NLPHL, review its clinical presentation, and summarize the available clinical data regarding treatment.

Treatment outcome after low intensity chemotherapy [CVP] in children and adolescents with early stage nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma - an Anglo-French collaborative report

PURPOSE

To examine whether three cycles of a low-intensity chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide [500 mg/m(2) - day 1], vinblastine [6 mg/m(2) - days 1 and 8] and prednisolone [40 mg/m(2) - days 1-7] (CVP) is safe and therapeutically effective in children and adolescents with early stage nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma [nLPHL].

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-five children and adolescents with early stage nLPHL [median age 13 years, range 4-17 years] diagnosed between June 2005 and October 2010 in the UK and France are the subjects of this report. Staging investigations included conventional cross sectional as well as 18 fluro-deoxyglucose [FDG] PET imaging. Histology was confirmed as nLPHL by an expert pathology panel.

RESULTS

Of the 45 patients, who received CVP as first line treatment, 36 [80%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: (68; 92)] either achieved a complete remission [CR] or CR unconfirmed [CRu], the remaining nine patients achieved a partial response. All nine subsequently achieved CR with salvage chemotherapy [n=7] or radiotherapy [n=2]. Ten patients received CVP at relapse after primary treatment that consisted of surgery alone and all achieved CR. To date, only three patients have relapsed after CVP chemotherapy and all had received CVP as first line treatment at initial diagnosis. The 40-month freedom from treatment failure and overall survival for the entire cohort were 75.4% (SE ± 6%) and 100%, respectively. No significant early toxicity was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that CVP is an effective chemotherapy regimen in children and adolescents with early stage nLPHL that is well tolerated with minimal acute toxicity.

Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin disease was first described more than 175 years ago. Clinically and histomorphologically, the features of Hodgkin lymphoma are unusual for a lymphoma or for other malignancies. The incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma is estimated to be 7400 new cases per year in the United States, resulting in an age-adjusted yearly rate of 2.7 per 100,000 per year. There have been numerous classifications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma over the years, but the organizational schemes of Hodgkin lymphoma have been stable. This article reviews the diagnosis of the various types of Hodgkin lymphoma classification, diagnosis and differential.

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Arising in Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma: a Report of 21 Cases from the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group

We sought to investigate the clinical characteristics and pathologic features and survival outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arising in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), since controversy regarding their prognosis exists in the literature. Twenty-one patients with DLBCL arising either concurrently with (n = 7) or subsequent to (n = 14) a diagnosis of NLPHL were identified in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group Registry. The clinical and pathologic features of the cases were evaluated, and survival analysis was performed from the time of diagnosis of DLBCL. The median time to the development of DLBCL in those with prior NLPHL was only one year (range, 0.5-24 years). The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of DLBCL was 46 years (range, 18-72 years) and the male to female ratio was 17:4. Ten patients presented with nodal DLBCL only, 6 patients presented with both nodal and extranodal involvement, and 5 patients presented with only extranodal DLBCL. Eleven patients had limited stage (I/II) disease and 10 had advanced stage (III/IV) disease. The median overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) of the entire group was 35 months and 11 months, respectively, and the predicted 5-year OS and FFS was 31% and 18%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the survival outcomes between patients with DLBCL arising in NLPHL and age- and sex- matched patients with de novo DLBCL. Our findings suggest that patients with DLBCL arising in NLPHL have a prognosis similar to those with de novo DLBCL and should be treated aggressively.

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Arising in Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma. A Report of 21 Cases from the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group

We sought to investigate the clinical characteristics and pathologic features and survival outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arising in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (NLPHL), since controversy regarding their prognosis exists in the literature. Twenty-one patients with DLBCL arising either concurrently with (n = 7) or subsequent to (n = 14) a diagnosis of NLPHL were identified in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group Registry. The clinical and pathologic features of the cases were evaluated, and survival analysis was performed from the time of diagnosis of DLBCL. The median time to the development of DLBCL in those with prior NLPHL was only one year (range, 0.5-24 years). The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of DLBCL was 46 years (range, 18-72 years) and the male to female ratio was 17:4. Ten patients presented with nodal DLBCL only, six patients presented with both nodal and extranodal involvement, and five patients presented with only extranodal DLBCL. Eleven patients had limited stage (I/II) disease and 10 had advanced stage (III/IV) disease. The median overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) of the entire group was 35 months and 11 months, respectively, and the predicted five-year OS and FFS was 31 and 18%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the survival outcomes between patients with DLBCL arising in NLPHL and age- and sex- matched patients with de novo DLBCL. In conclusion, our findings suggest that patients with DLBCL arising in NLPHL have a prognosis similar to those with de novo DLBCL and should be treated aggressively.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma that differs from classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) with respect to histologic and clinical presentation. Because the prognosis of NLPHL in early unfavorable and advanced stages is similar to that of cHL, treatment is similar. In contrast, early favorable-stage NLPHL has a better prognosis than cHL. Thus, NLPHL in early favorable stages might be treated with reduced-intensity programs without compromising cure rates. Because involved-field radiotherapy alone seems to be as effective as extended-field radiotherapy or combined modalities, it has been adopted by the German Hodgkin Study Group and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer as the treatment of choice for stage IA NLPHL. Now that efficacy of the monoclonal antibody rituximab has been shown in relapsed NLPHL, its use in the first-line treatment of NLPHL is under investigation.

Lymphocyte-predominant and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma: a comprehensive analysis from the German Hodgkin Study Group

PURPOSE

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL) is rare and differs in histologic and clinical presentation from classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). To shed more light on the prognosis and outcome of LPHL, we reviewed all LPHL patients registered in the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) database, comparing patient characteristics and treatment outcome with cHL patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed retrospectively 8,298 HL patients treated within the GHSG trials HD4 to HD12, of whom 394 had LPHL and 7,904 had cHL.

RESULTS

Complete remission and unconfirmed complete remission after first-line treatment was achieved in 91.6% v 85.9% of patients in early favorable stages, 85.7% v 83.3% of patients in early unfavorable stages, and 76.8% v 77.8% of patients in advanced stages of LPHL compared with cHL, respectively. Tumor control (freedom from treatment failure [FFTF]) for LPHL and cHL patients at a median observation of 50 months was 88% and 82% (P = .0093) and overall survival (OS) was 96% and 92%, respectively (P = .0166). In LPHL patients, negative prognostic factors were advanced stage (P = .0092), Hb less than 10.5 g/dL (P = .0171), and lymphopenia (P = .010) for FFTF. Age >or= 45 years (P = .0125), advanced stage (P = .0153), and Hb less than 10.5 g/dL (P = .0014) were negative prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSION

The better prognosis of LPHL as compared with cHL might allow different treatment strategies, particularly for early-stage LPHL patients.

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

BACKGROUND

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (LPHL) is a rare, CD20-positive, good prognostic lymphoma in children. Patients with early-stage LPHL who underwent successful surgical lymph node resection alone have been reported. To clarify the optimum treatment strategy in children, European study groups were asked to report their experience of surgery alone used in the treatment of pediatric LPHL.

METHODS

Data from 58 patients were collected by the French Society for Pediatric Cancers, the German-Austrian Pediatric Study Group/German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (Germany), and the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (United Kingdom). In total, there were 50 boys and 8 girls, and the median age was 11 years (age range, 4-17 years). Fifty-four patients had stage IA disease, 2 patients had stage IIA disease, and 2 patients had stage IIIA disease.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 43 months (range, 2-202 months), the overall survival rate was 100%, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 57%. Fifty-one of 58 patients achieved complete remission (CR) after surgery. In the CR group, the overall PFS rate was 67% (95% confidence interval, 51-82%). All seven patients who had residual disease after initial surgery developed recurrences (P = .003). Among 18 patients with stage IA LPHL who developed recurrent disease, 11 patients had local recurrences, and 7 patients recurred in stage IIA. One patient with stage IIIA disease presented with high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma at 10 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

When complete resection was achieved, a substantial proportion of patients with surgically treated, early-stage LPHL experienced long-term remission and actually may have been cured.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), a distinct subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma, is a rare disease with a generally favorable prognosis. The hallmark of NLPHL is the presence of the lymphocytic and histiocytic cell, which, in contrast to the classic Reed-Sternberg cell, is CD20+, CD15-, and CD30-. NLPHL tends to have an indolent natural history, a long time to disease progression, a delayed time to relapse, and a high likelihood of presenting as early-stage disease. The evidence to guide the management of patients with NLPHL is limited by the rarity of this disease, but the available data support the use of involved-field radiation therapy alone for localized disease. Treatment-related late effects contribute significantly to the causes of death in patients treated for NLPHL.

Current strategies and new approaches in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma

As a result of continuous improvement in therapeutic options and their verification by large multicenter trials, Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has become one of the best curable cancers in adults. Nowadays, about 80-90% of patients in all stages achieve long-term survival. Nevertheless, these good results are threatened by treatment-associated toxicities such as infertility, cardiopulmonary toxicity and secondary malignancies. It is therefore the aim of future trial generations both to maintain excellent treatment results and to minimize late effects. At early stages, ongoing trials ask how many cycles of ABVD-like chemotherapy are necessary and if radiation doses might be further reduced or even omitted in favorable early-stage disease. In advanced stages, new combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with higher dose densities are tested with or without the application of consolidating radiotherapy. The treatment of patients with relapsed HL depends on previous therapies with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. For patients with multiple relapses, experimental treatment strategies include antibody- and small-molecule-based regimens. In this review we present current treatment strategies for patients with a first diagnosis of HL and relapsed HL as well as recent experimental therapeutic approaches.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL) differs in histologic and clinical presentation from classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). Treatment of LPHL patients using standard Hodgkin's lymphoma protocols leads to complete remission in more than 95% of patients. Survival and freedom from treatment failure are substantially worse in advanced-stage patients than for early-stage patients. Thus, patients in advanced stages and those in early stages with unfavorable risk factors should be treated similar to those with cHL. In contrast, patients with early-stage LPHL without risk factors might be sufficiently treated with reduced-intensity programs having less severe adverse effects. As a result, treatment of early LPHL is rather heterogeneous, including radiotherapy using extended-fleld technique, involved-fleld radiotherapy (IF-RT), combined-modality treatment, and, more recently, monoclonal antibodies. Watch-and-wait strategy plays an important role in pediatric oncology, to avoid adverse effects associated with therapy. IF-RT seems to be emerging as a treatment of choice for patients with stage IA LPHL; most larger study groups, such as the German Hodgkin Study Group and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, have adopted IF-RT as the treatment of choice for these patients.

Biology, Clinical Course and Management of Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) differs in histological and clinical presentation from classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The typical morphologic signs of NLPHL are atypical “lymphocytic and histiocytic” (L&H) cells, which are surrounded by a non-neoplastic nodular background of small lymphocytes of B-cell origin. The NLPHL cells are positive for CD45, CD19, CD20, CD22 and CD79a, but lack expression of CD15 and CD30, the typical markers for cHL. NLPHL patients are predominantly of male gender with a median age of 37 years. Patients often present in early stages (63%) and rarely have B-symptoms (9%). Treatment of NLPHL patients using standard Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) protocols leads to complete remission (CR) in more than 95% of patients. Survival and freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) are worse in advanced-stage patients than in early-stage patients. Thus, patients in advanced and in early stages with unfavorable risk factors are treated similarly to cHL patients. In contrast, patients with early-stage NLPHL without risk factors can be sufficiently treated with reduced intensity programs having less severe adverse effects. As a result, treatment of early NLPHL is less clearly defined, including radiotherapy in extended field (EF) or involved field (IF) technique, combined modality treatment, and, more recently, monoclonal antibody rituximab. Watch and wait strategy plays an important role in pediatric oncology to avoid adverse effects associated with therapy.

Extended field radiotherapy, combined modality treatment or involved field radiotherapy for patients with stage IA lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma: a retrospective analysis from the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)

BACKGROUND

Since there are no randomized studies, the treatment of choice for patients with early stage lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL) remains unclear. We thus reviewed all LPHL cases registered in the database of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) and compared the different treatment approaches, such as extended field (EF), involved field (IF) radiation and combined modality (CM) treatment for LPHL stage IA patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and thirty-one patients with LPHL in clinical stage IA without risk factors were analyzed. Forty-five patients were treated with EF radiotherapy, 45 patients with IF radiation and 41 patients received CM treatment. The median follow-up was 78 months in the EF group, 40 months after CM and 17 months after IF, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 129 patients achieved complete remission (CR and CRu): 98% after EF radiotherapy, 100% after IF radiation and 95% after CM. With a median follow-up of 43 months there were 5% relapses and only three patients died. Toxicity of treatment was generally mild with most events observed after CM.

CONCLUSION

In terms of remission induction IF radiotherapy for stage IA LPHL patients is as effective as EF or CM treatment. However, longer follow-up is needed before final conclusion as the optimal therapy.

Long-term outcome after radiotherapy alone for lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND

The curative potential of radiotherapy (RT) alone as initial treatment for patients with Stage I-II lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (LPHL) has not been defined well.

METHODS

Two hundred two patients who were treated between 1969 and 1995 were evaluated in a retrospective, multicenter study.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics were as follows: The median age was 31 years, 75% of patients were male, 80% of patients had Ann Arbor Stage I disease, 1% of patients had bulky disease, 3% of patients had B symptoms, 1% of patients had extranodal involvement, and 80% of patients had supradiaphragmatic disease. The RT fields were a full mantle field in 52% of patients, less than a full mantle field in 24% of patients, an inverted-Y field in 17% of patients, less than an inverted-Y field in 3% of patients, and total lymph node irradiation in 3% of patients. The median dose was 36 Gray. The median follow-up was 15 years. The overall survival (OS) rate at 15 years was 83%, and freedom from progression (FFP) was observed in 82% of patients, including 84% of patients with Stage I disease and 73% of patients with Stage II disease. No recurrent LPHL and only 1 patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were reported after 15 years. Adverse prognostic factors that were identified on multifactor analysis were as follows: for OS, age 45 years or older (P < 0.0005), the presence of B symptoms (P = 0.002), increasing number of sites (P = 0.015); for FFP, increasing number of sites (P = 0.002). No significant difference was found in FFP in a comparison of patients who received elective mediastinal RT with patients who did not receive mediastinal RT (P = 0.11). Causes of death at 15 years were LPHL in 3% of patients, NHL in 2% of patients, in-field malignancy in 2% of patients, in-field cardiac/respiratory in 4% of patients, and other in 6% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The current data suggested that RT potentially may be curative for patients with Stage I-II LPHL and raise the possibility that limited-field RT may be used without loss of treatment efficacy. Involved-field RT warrants further investigation for patients with early-stage LPHL.

Lymphocyte-predominant and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma--comparison of outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL) differs in histological and clinical presentation from classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). Treatment of LPHL patients using standard Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) protocols leads to complete remission (CR) in more than 95% of patients. However, differences in terms of relapse rates, survival and freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) between LPHL and cHL patients were suggested by a recent intergroup analysis. To obtain a more comprehensive picture, we reviewed all LPHL-cases registered in the GHSG database and compared patient characteristics and treatment outcome with cHL patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 8298 HL patients treated within the GHSG trials (HD4-HD12): 394 LPHL patients and 7904 cHL patients. From 394 LPHL patients 63% were in early stage, 16% in intermediate and 21% in advanced stage of disease. Of the 7904 cHL patients analyzed, 22% were in early, 39% in intermediate and 39% in advanced stages. About 9% of LPHL patients had B symptoms compared to 40% in cHL patients.

RESULTS

About 91% LPHL vs. 86% cHL patients in early stages, 86% vs. 83% in intermediate and 79% vs. 75% in advanced stages reached CR/CRu. Additional analysis for LPHL IA patients showed 98% CR/CRu after extended field, 100% after involved field (IF) and 98% CR/CRu after combined modality treatment. About 0.3% LPHL patients developed progressive disease (PD) compared to 3.7% cHL patients. The relapse rate of LPHL patients was very similar to cHL (8.1% vs. 7.9%). There were 2.5% secondary malignancies in LPHL and 3.7% in cHL patients. About 4.3% LPHL patients and 8.8% cHL patients died. The FFTF rates for LPHL and cHL patients at a median observation of 41 or 48 months were 92% and 84%, respectively. The OS for LPHL and cHL patients was 96% and 92%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The cHL patients present more frequently with advanced stages and B symptoms compared to LPHL patients. There was no difference in treatment outcome in terms of CR/CRu, PD and mortality between LPHL and HL. Surprisingly, there were also no differences in patients with relapse.

Rituximab in Lymphocyte Predominance Hodgkin's Disease: A Case Series

Rituximab in combination with chlorambucil or radiation therapy may be an effective and less-toxic therapeutic alternative for patients with lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (LPHD). We treated 6 patients with LPHD with weekly rituximab at 375 mg/m2 for 4 weeks, followed by either radiation therapy or chlorambucil. Four patients had previously untreated disease and 2 had relapsed LPHD. All patients had no evidence of disease progression at a median follow-up time of 12.5 months after receiving rituximab therapy (range, 6-39 months) and a median follow-up time of 6.5 months after completion of chlorambucil or radiation therapy (range, 3-25 months). Further follow-up is warranted to evaluate response duration and late toxicity of this novel treatment strategy

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma in children: therapeutic abstention after initial lymph node resection--a Study of the French Society of Pediatric Oncology

PURPOSE

To clarify treatment strategy for lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL), the French Society of Pediatric Oncology initiated a prospective, nonrandomized study in 1988. Patients received either standard treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma or were not treated beyond initial adenectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1988 to 1998, 27 patients were available for study. Twenty-four patients were male, and median age was 10 years (range, 4 to 16 years). Twenty-two, two, and three patients had stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Thirteen patients (stage I, n = 11; stage III, n = 2) received no further treatment after initial surgical adenectomy (SA). Fourteen patients received combined treatment (CT; n = 10), involved-field radiotherapy alone (n = 1), or chemotherapy alone (n = 3). The two groups were comparable for clinical status, treatment, and follow-up.

RESULTS

Twenty-three of 27 patients achieved complete remission (CR). With a median follow-up time of 70 months (range, 32 to 214 months), overall survival to date is 100%, and overall event-free survival (EFS) is 69% +/- 10% (SA, 42% +/- 16%; CT, 90% +/- 8.6%; P <.04). If we considered only the patients in CR after initial surgery (n = 12), EFS was no longer significantly different between the two groups. Patients with residual mass after initial surgery (n = 15) had worse EFS if they did not receive complementary treatment (P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Although based on a small number of patients, our study showed that (1). no further therapy is a valid therapeutic approach in LPHL patient in CR after initial lymph node resection, and (2). complementary treatment diminishes relapse frequency but has no impact on survival.

Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease

Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (LPHD) is a rare type of B-cell lymphoma with unique pathologic and clinical features that distinguish it from other types of Hodgkin's disease. Patients with LPHD tend to be younger males who present with indolent and asymptomatic lymphadenopathy limited to peripheral lymph nodes. The immunophenotype of the malignant lymphocytic and/or histiocytic cells (CD20+, CD15-, CD30-) forms the basis of the pathologic distinction from the subtypes of classical Hodgkin's disease. Despite an excellent response to aggressive upfront combined-modality treatment, patients with LPHD tend to relapse continuously over decades. The benign nature of these relapses and the incidence of late treatment-related toxicity have raised questions about the need for an aggressive upfront approach. Recent insights into the molecular pathogenesis of LPHD and the development of novel targeted therapies promise to improve future treatment.

Radiotherapy alone for lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to analyze the results with radiotherapy alone in a select group of asymptomatic adults with nonbulky, early-stage lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1963 and 1995, 36 patients with nonbulky stage IA (N = 27) or IIA (N = 9) supradiaphragmatic (N = 27) or subdiaphragmatic (N = 9) lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease were treated with radiotherapy alone. Eleven of the patients underwent laparotomy. Limited-field radiotherapy involving only one side of the diaphragm and extended-field radiotherapy encompassing both sides of the diaphragm were used in 28 and 8 cases, respectively. Median dose to involved areas was 40.0 Gy given daily in 20 2.0-Gy fractions. Salvage treatmentconsisted of MOPP (mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone, procarbazine), CVPP/ABDIC (cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisone/doxorubicin, bleomycin, dacarbazine, lomustine, and prednisone), or ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) chemotherapy and/or involved-field radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 8.8 years (range, 3.0-34.4 years). None of the 15 patients with supradiaphragmatic disease who received limited-field radiotherapy to regions that did not include the mediastinal or hilar nodes subsequently experienced relapse there. Only one of 20 patients who received supradiaphragmatic limited-field radiotherapy alone experienced relapse in the paraaortic nodes or spleen. The 5-year relapse-free and overall survival rates for the 20 patients with stage IA lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease treated with involved-field or regional radiotherapy were 95% and 100%, respectively. There were no cases of severe or life-threatening cardiac toxicity. No solid tumors have been observed in-field in patients treated with limited-field radiotherapy, even though they have been followed up longer than those treated with extended-field radiotherapy (median follow-up, 11.6 vs 5.5 years); two solid tumors have developed in-field in patients who received extended-field radiotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Involved-field or regional radiotherapy alone may be adequate in stage IA lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease patients. Longer follow-up will help to more clearly define the risks of cardiac toxicity and solid tumors that result from involved-field or regional radiotherapy, which appear to be low based on follow-up to date.

Hodgkin's lymphoma: basing the treatment on the evidence

This paper examines the evidence available to guide treatment decisions in three areas of Hodgkin's lymphoma management. In Section I Dr. Evert Noordijk describes evolving strategies for patients with early stage disease outlining the eras during which the focus has changed from initially accomplishing cure through refining and intensifying the treatment to one of maximizing cure rates and finally into a patient-oriented era in which the twin goals of maintaining high rates of cure and minimizing late toxicity are being achieved. In Section II Dr. Sandra Horning reviews the way in which the cooperative groups of North America and Europe have built upon initial observations from single centers to assemble the trials that have defined the treatment for advanced stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. Over a period of almost three decades, these well-constructed trials have defined a current standard of treatment, ABVD chemotherapy and are now investigating innovative approaches to move beyond this standard. She also indicates the need to appreciate diagnostic factors and the implications of prognostic factor models for the design and interpretation of clinical trials. In Section III Dr. Joseph Connors summarizes the evidence available to inform our choice of treatment for the uncommon but important entity of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma. Once again, the guidance that can be derived from carefully conducted clinical investigation is used to address the issues surrounding choice of treatment, reasonable monitoring in long term follow-up and the clear-cut need to base diagnosis on objective immunohistochemical evidence.

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte very favorable and favorable, lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease

BACKGROUND

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease (LPHD) is rare and has a natural history different from that of classic Hodgkin disease. There is little information in the literature regarding the role of chemotherapy in patients with early-stage LPHD. The objective of this study was to examine recurrence free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and patterns of first recurrence in patients with LPHD who were treated with radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

METHODS

From 1963 to 1996, 48 consecutive patients ages 16-49 years (median, 28 years) with Ann Arbor Stage I (n = 30 patients) or Stage II (n = 18 patients), very favorable (VF; n = 5 patients) or favorable (F; n = 43 patients) LPHD, according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (EORTC-GELA) criteria, received radiotherapy alone (n = 37 patients) or received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (n = 11 patients). The percentages of patients with VF disease (11% vs. 9% in the radiotherapy group vs. the chemotherapy plus radiotherapy group, respectively) or F disease (89% vs. 91%, respectively) within the two treatment groups were similar (P = 1.00). A median of three cycles of chemotherapy with mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) or with mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone (NOVP) was given initially to six patients and five patients, respectively. A median total radiotherapy dose of 40 grays (Gy) given in daily fractions of 2.0 Gy was delivered to both treatment groups.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 9.3 years, and 98% of patients were observed for > or = 3.0 years. RFS was similar for patients who were treated with radiotherapy alone and patients who were treated with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (10-year survival rates: 77% and 68%, respectively; P = 0.89). The OS rate also was similar for the two groups (10-year survival rates: 90% and 100%, respectively; P = 0.43). MOPP or NOVP chemotherapy did not reduce the risk of recurrence outside of the radiotherapy fields.

CONCLUSIONS

MOPP or NOVP chemotherapy did not improve RFS or OS significantly in patients with VF or F LPHD, although the statistical power was limited. Ongoing clinical trials will help to clarify the role of a watch-and-wait strategy or systemic therapy, including anthracycline (epirubicin or doxorubicin), bleomycin, and vinblastine-based chemotherapy or antibody-based approaches, in the treatment of these patients.

Clinical presentation, course, and prognostic factors in lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease and lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's disease: report from the European Task Force on Lymphoma Project on Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin's Disease

PURPOSE

Recent studies have suggested that lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease (LPHD) is both clinically and pathologically distinct from other forms of Hodgkin's disease, including classical Hodgkin's disease (CHD). However, large-scale clinical studies were lacking. This multicenter, retrospective study investigated the clinical characteristics and course of LPHD patients and lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's disease (LRCHD) patients classified according to morphologic and immunophenotypic criteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data and biopsy material of all available cases initially submitted as LPHD were collected from 17 European and American centers, stained, and reclassified by expert pathologists.

RESULTS

The 426 assessable cases were reclassified as LPHD (51%), LRCHD (27%), CHD (5%), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (3%), and reactive lesion (3%); 11% of cases were not assessable. Patients with LPHD and LRCHD were predominantly male, with early-stage disease and few risk factors. Patients with LRCHD were significantly older. Survival and failure-free survival rates with adequate therapy were similar for patients with LPHD and LRCHD, and were stage-dependent and not significantly better than stage-comparable results for CHD (German trial data). Twenty-seven percent of relapsing LPHD patients had multiple relapses, which is significantly more than the 5% of relapsing LRCHD patients who had multiple relapses. Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease patients had significantly superior survival after relapse compared with LRCHD or CHD patients; however, this was partly due to the younger average age of LPHD patients.

CONCLUSION

The two subgroups of LPHD and LRCHD bore a close clinical resemblance that was distinct from CHD; the course was similar to that of comparable nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity patients. Thorough staging is necessary to detect advanced disease in LPHD and LRCHD patients. The question of how to treat such patients, either by reducing treatment intensity or following a "watch and wait" approach, remains unanswered.

Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease: pathology and clinical implication

The special nature and course of lymphocyte rich variants of Hodgkin's disease (HD) has been the subject of pathological and clinical studies since the 1930s. Patients with lymphocyte predominant (LP) HD, predominantly male and 25-45 years old, usually present with early clinical stage, cervical or inguinal involvement and few if any adverse prognostic factors. The disease progresses slowly, with fairly frequent relapses which are rarely fatal. Nonetheless, cases with advanced stage and deaths from Hodgkin's disease have been observed in LPHD. Recently, immunological studies have lead to a clear distinction between LPHD and classical HD including a lymphocyte rich classical version (LRCHD). Secondary low-grade NHLs occur more frequently after LPHD than after classical HD. They seem to be disease-related rather than treatment-induced. LPHD patients in earlier studies have tended to have a better prognosis than classical HD patients. When cohorts of the same clinical stage are compared, under modern protocol treatment this advantage seems to be minimal or absent. LPHD patients tend to relapse frequently but they survive these relapses better than classical HD patients. The resemblance to non-neoplastic disorders, capability for ongoing mutation, favorable clinical presentation and good survival rates after relapse all suggest that the optimal primary treatment strategy might be less intensive for LPHD than for classical HD. Late toxicities, which contribute considerably to the death rate, could thus be reduced. The long survival of several early stage LPHD patients without any treatment beyond lymph node excision could favour a 'watch-and-wait' strategy, albeit only after rigorous staging. New experimental therapy techniques such as immunotherapy might also be suitable. These possibilities must first be tested in a large-scale prospective study.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Interleukin-1β–Converting Enzyme/Ced-3 Family Protease, CPP32/Yama/Caspase-3, in Hodgkin's Disease

The Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene, Ced-3, encodes a protein homologous to mammalian interleukin-1β–converting enzyme (ICE), a cysteine protease implicated in programmed cell death (PCD). CPP32, also known as Yama, apopain, and Caspase-3, is a member of this family, has substrate specificities similar to Ced-3, and has been shown to have an active role in PCD. Evidence suggests that these proteases act downstream of inhibitors of PCD such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL , which are frequently expressed in Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells of Hodgkin's disease (HD). To date there have been no studies examining the role of the ICE/Ced-3 family of proteins, in particular CPP32, in HD. We examined 24 cases of HD with a classical immunophenotype and 6 cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant HD (NLPHD) for the expression of CPP32 in the RS cells and lymphohistiocytic (L&H) cells as detected by immunohistochemistry. Twenty two of 24 cases (92%) of HD expressed the protein in the RS cells, whereas the L&H cells in all 6 cases of NLPHD lacked expression of CPP32. These results provide further evidence that NLPHD is a phenotypically different disease distinct from classical forms of HD. The differential expression of the cell death protein CPP32 may be an important factor contributing to the apparently different clinical behaviour of NLPHD in contrast to classical HD. The lack of expression of CPP32 in NLPHD shares similarities with low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and may explain their common clinical course. Further studies are required to elucidate the significance of CPP32 in HD.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Interleukin-1β–Converting Enzyme/Ced-3 Family Protease, CPP32/Yama/Caspase-3, in Hodgkin's Disease

The Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene, Ced-3, encodes a protein homologous to mammalian interleukin-1β–converting enzyme (ICE), a cysteine protease implicated in programmed cell death (PCD). CPP32, also known as Yama, apopain, and Caspase-3, is a member of this family, has substrate specificities similar to Ced-3, and has been shown to have an active role in PCD. Evidence suggests that these proteases act downstream of inhibitors of PCD such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL , which are frequently expressed in Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells of Hodgkin's disease (HD). To date there have been no studies examining the role of the ICE/Ced-3 family of proteins, in particular CPP32, in HD. We examined 24 cases of HD with a classical immunophenotype and 6 cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant HD (NLPHD) for the expression of CPP32 in the RS cells and lymphohistiocytic (L&H) cells as detected by immunohistochemistry. Twenty two of 24 cases (92%) of HD expressed the protein in the RS cells, whereas the L&H cells in all 6 cases of NLPHD lacked expression of CPP32. These results provide further evidence that NLPHD is a phenotypically different disease distinct from classical forms of HD. The differential expression of the cell death protein CPP32 may be an important factor contributing to the apparently different clinical behaviour of NLPHD in contrast to classical HD. The lack of expression of CPP32 in NLPHD shares similarities with low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and may explain their common clinical course. Further studies are required to elucidate the significance of CPP32 in HD.

Nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease: long-term observation reveals a continuous pattern of recurrence

We evaluated the presenting clinical characteristics and outcome of 68 patients with nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (NLP-HD), in order to delineate the pattern of evolution of the disease. The male to female ratio was 46/22 and median age 35 yrs (range, 14-86). Eight patients had a history of benign hyperplasia on lymph node biopsies performed 6 to 36 months before the diagnosis of NLP-HD. Early stage disease accounted for 75% of cases. One patient had a coexistent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatment was as follows: radiotherapy in 26, chemotherapy in 23, combined modality in 19. CR rate was 93% (63/68). 18 patients relapsed as HD and 5 developed NHL. The cumulative risk of NHL was 9% at 10 yrs. During remission, 4 patients had 5 episodes of follicular hyperplasia histologically documented. Overall survival rate was 71% at 10 yrs and and 63% at 15 yrs. Freedom from progression (FFP) declined from 67% at 5 yrs to 45% at 10 yrs, because of late relapses. Localized disease predicted for a better FFP (p = 0.01), but was not associated with a reduced risk of recurrence over time. NLP-HD is characterized by an indolent course with a constant pattern of relapse over time, also in patients with early stage disease at diagnosis. In addition to relapse as NLP-HD, patients may evolve into a NHL or develop benign lymph nodal hyperplasia. Careful long-term follow up is needed for these patients.