Long-term results and competing risk analysis of the H89 trial in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma: a study by the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA)

National Survey on the Effect of Oncology Drug Shortages in Clinical Practice: A Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association Survey

PURPOSE

Drug shortages are a clear and growing challenge. Prominent shortages included oncology medications and supportive care products essential for the care of patients with cancer. Oncology drug shortages often result in disruptions in the timing of chemotherapy treatments, alterations in the dose or regimen administered, or even missed doses when alternative agents are unavailable. The purpose of this survey was to characterize the impact of oncology drug shortages across the United States, including the experiences of health care organizations, resource implications, and the impact on patient safety, patient care, and clinical trials.

METHODS

A 36-item online survey was distributed to membership of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association to gather information on shortages of oncology drugs (ie, all drugs essential in the care of patients with cancer, including supportive care agents).

RESULTS

Sixty-eight US organizations participated in the survey between December 2019 and July 2020. Sixty-three percent of institutions reported one or more drug shortages per month, with a 34% increase in 2019 from 2018. Treatment delays, reduced doses, or alternative regimens were reported by 75% of respondents. The most difficult agents to obtain were vincristine, vinblastine, intravenous immunoglobulin, leucovorin, and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

CONCLUSION

A survey of US oncology pharmacists indicated that oncology drug shortages occurred frequently in 2020. Shortages led to delays in chemotherapy and changes in treatment or omission, complicated clinical research, and increased risk of medication errors and adverse outcomes.

Treatment Strategies for Advanced Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma in the Times of Dacarbazine Shortage

The shortage of dacarbazine (DTIC) has created an acute and unprecedented crisis in the management of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, with DTIC being an essential component of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and DTIC (ABVD) and prior attempts at omitting DTIC from ABVD leading to substantial loss of efficacy. In this review, we discuss the strategies to manage classical Hodgkin lymphoma during the DTIC shortage and propose a treatment algorithm on the basis of fitness and ability to receive anthracyclines safely.

Efficacy and safety of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells in the treatment of 11 patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma: a single-center study

Background

No effective treatment exist for patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell lymphoma, until the advent of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the factors affecting the efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR T-cell and the adverse reactions of the therapy.

Methods

We recruited 11 patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell lymphoma. The number of anti-CD19 CAR T-cells, proliferation, and adverse reactions were recorded in detail, to explore the relationship between the factors affecting the efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR T-cell and the long-term survival of patients.

Results

The 11 patients in our study had a total overall response rate of 100%, after receiving anti-CD19 CAR T-cells. The median follow-up was 253 days (range, 130-1,017 days). The median overall survival (OS) and median progression-free survival (PFS) were not reached. After 3 months of treatment, the complete remission (CR) rate was 63.6% (7/11). As of December 7, 2019, 5 patients had maintained CR for a period exceeding 1 year, including 2 patients who had maintained CR for more than 1,000 days. The patients who received 3 or 4 lines of chemotherapy were more likely to have sustained remission than the patients who received <2 or >4 lines of chemotherapy. Each of the 4 patients in the study who had diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) progression all had high myc protein expression (positive incidence: 30-80%). The incidence of Grade 2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was 36.4% (4/11), and Grade 3 CAR T-cell-related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES) was experienced by 1 patient. The occurrence of adverse reactions was not significantly related to the infusion dose, peak amplification time, or maximum copy amount. The immunoglobulin levels of the four patients who died showed a significant downward trend. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) appeared to be associated with the occurrence of CRS and CRES.

Conclusions

Anti-CD19 CAR T-cell treatment is a new therapy for patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell lymphoma. Among the small sample size in this study, it demonstrated high efficiency and safety.

Metachronous and Synchronous Cancers in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

INTRODUCTION

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies with various clinical presentations and growth rates. NET incidence has been estimated to 2.5-5 per 100,000 people per year, and NET prevalence is 35 per 100,000. They are frequently associated with synchronous or metachronous second primary malignancies (SPM).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database on NET patients. We report on 30 patients with NETs and SPMs from a series of 262 patients with NETs: 10 patients with synchronous NETs (33.3%) and 20 with metachronous SPMs (66.6%).

RESULTS

The median patient age was 67 years. Of the 10 synchronous lesions, 50% were observed in the GI tract. The most common locations of these lesions were the colon (15%) and pancreas (25%). In 2 patients, there was an association of prostate neoplasia with a subsequent NET of the pancreas.

CONCLUSIONS

Only few studies have examined the association between NETs and SPMs. Our study showed that the risk of second cancer following NETs is increased. In this single-institution retrospective review, our incidence of additional malignancies in patients with NET was 11.4%.

Benefit from the inclusion of radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with stage III classical Hodgkin lymphoma: A propensity matched analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database

BACKGROUND

While stage III and IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients are often combined and defined as "advanced stage," there are significant differences in disease distribution and burden between the two stages. This may obscure advantages of radiotherapy (RT) in a combined modality therapy strategy in stage III disease due to the relative lack of benefit in stage IV patients.

METHODS

We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, restricting our search to patients with stage III classical HL diagnosed from 2004 to 2012, to examine the difference in overall and cause-specific survival (OS and CSS) between patients who did or did not receive RT.

RESULTS

Patients treated with RT had improved OS and CSS relative to those treated without RT (5-year OS 91.6% with RT compared to 71.4% without RT, HR=0.34, p<0.001) and CSS (5-year OS 95.4% with RT compared to 84.7% without RT, HR=0.32, p<0.001). A benefit in OS and/or CSS was seen in all patient subgroups except for older adults (>64years).

CONCLUSION

These data support at least a cautionary approach to omitting RT from treatment strategies for patients with advanced stage HL.

Patterns of care and survival outcomes examining radiation therapy for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma

The use of radiation therapy (RT) and its impact on survival in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. Data were obtained from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registries from 1988-2011. There were 9467 adults who met inclusion criteria; 19% received RT. Radiation use declined from 25% in 1988 to 16% in 2011. Five-year overall survival (OS) for stage III and IV patients for the no versus RT cohorts were 79% versus 88% (p < 0.0001) and 73% versus 84% (p < 0.0001), respectively. RT was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.76; 0.68-0.85) on multivariable analysis and in patients diagnosed after 2000. Although there was a decline in utilization of RT from 1988 to 2011, RT was associated with a survival benefit in stage III-IV HL.

Eight Cycles of ABVD Versus Four Cycles of BEACOPPescalated Plus Four Cycles of BEACOPPbaseline in Stage III to IV, International Prognostic Score ≥ 3, High-Risk Hodgkin Lymphoma: First Results of the Phase III EORTC 20012 Intergroup Trial

PURPOSE

To compare patients with high-risk stage III to IV Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in the phase III European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 20012 Intergroup trial (Comparison of Two Combination Chemotherapy Regimens in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma) who were randomly assigned to either doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) or to bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with clinical stage III or IV HL, International Prognostic Score of 3 or higher, and age 60 years or younger received ABVD for eight cycles (ABVD8) or escalated-dose BEACOPP (BEACOPPescalated) for four cycles followed by baseline BEACOPP (BEACOPPbaseline) for four cycles (BEACOPP4+4) without radiotherapy. Primary end points were event-free survival (EFS), treatment discontinuation, no complete response (CR) or unconfirmed complete response (CRu) after eight cycles, progression, relapse, or death. Secondary end points were CR rate, overall survival (OS), quality of life, secondary malignancies, and disease-free survival in CR/CRu patients.

RESULTS

Between 2002 and 2010, 549 patients were randomly assigned to ABVD8 (n = 275) or BEACOPP4+4 (n = 274). Other characteristics included median age, 35 years; male, 75%; stage IV, 74%; "B" symptoms, 81%; and International Prognostic Score ≥ 4, 59%. WHO performance status was 0 (34%), 1 (48%), or 2 (17%). Median follow-up was 3.6 years. CR/CRu was 82.5% in both arms. At 4 years, EFS was 63.7% for ABVD8 versus 69.3% for BEACOPP4+4 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.15; P = .312); disease-free survival was 85.8% versus 91.0% (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.33 to 1.06; P = .076), and OS was 86.7% versus 90.3% (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.21; P = .208). Death as a result of toxicity occurred in six and five patients, early discontinuation (before cycle 5) in 12 and 26 patients, treatment crossovers in five and 10 patients, and secondary malignancies in eight and 10 patients in the ABVD8 and BEACOPP4+4 arms, respectively.

CONCLUSION

ABVD8 and BEACOPP4+4 resulted in similar EFS and OS in patients with high-risk advanced-stage HL. Because BEACOPP4+4 did not demonstrate a favorable effectiveness or toxicity ratio compared with ABVD8, treatment burden, immediate and late toxicities, and associated costs must be considered before selecting one of these regimens on which to build future treatment strategies.

Second cancers in patients with neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND

Second cancers have been reported to occur in 10-20% of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, most published studies used data from a single institution or focused only on specific sites of NETs. In addition, most of these studies included second cancers diagnosed concurrently with NETs, making it difficult to assess the temporality and determine the exact incidence of second cancers. In this nationwide population-based study, we used data recorded by the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) to analyze the incidence and distribution of second cancers after the diagnosis of NETs.

METHODS

NET cases diagnosed from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2006 were identified from the TCR. The data on the occurrence of second cancers were ascertained up to December 31, 2008. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of second cancers were calculated based on the cancer incidence rates of the general population. Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of second cancers associated with sex, age, and primary NET sites.

RESULTS

A total of 1,350 newly diagnosed NET cases were identified according to the selection criteria. Among the 1,350 NET patients, 49 (3.63%) developed a second cancer >3 months after the diagnosis of NET. The risk of second cancer following NETs was increased compared to the general population (SIR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-1.96), especially among those diagnosed at age 70 or older (HR = 5.08, 95% CI = 1.69-15.22). There appeared to be no preference of second cancer type according to the primary sites of NETs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that the risk of second cancer following NETs is increased, especially among those diagnosed at age 70 or older. Close monitoring for the occurrence of second cancers after the diagnosis of NETs is warranted.

Reappraisal of the use of procarbazine in the treatment of lymphomas and brain tumors

Procarbazine HCl is a 'nonclassical' oral alkylating anticancer agent that was first synthesized in the late 1950s. It has been used in the treatment of many cancers, but its main use is in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma and brain tumors and, to a lesser extent, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and primary central nervous system lymphoma. Procarbazine is a prodrug that undergoes metabolic transformation into active intermediates that are thought to inhibit DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Early use of procarbazine in combination with mechlorethamine, vincristine, and prednisone (MOPP) was effective in the treatment of advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma, but late toxic effects such as secondary cancer and infertility led to its replacement by other regimens. However, its recent reintroduction in the dose-intensified BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) regimen has yielded very promising findings. Procarbazine alone, or more commonly combined in the PCV (procarbazine, lomustine [CCNU], and vincristine) regimen, is also effective in treating gliomas comprising astrocytomas, glioblastomas, and oligodendrogliomas. The most common side effects of procarbazine are gastrointestinal disturbances, myelosuppression, and central nervous system effects. In conclusion, the use of procarbazine in combination with other drugs means that it remains a major anticancer drug in the management of Hodgkin's lymphoma and gliomas.

Proteomic analysis identifies galectin-1 as a predictive biomarker for relapsed/refractory disease in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Considerable effort has been spent identifying prognostic biomarkers in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The aim of our study was to search for possible prognostic parameters in advanced-stage cHL using a proteomics-based strategy. A total of 14 cHL pretreatment tissue samples from younger, advanced-stage patients were included. Patients were grouped according to treatment response. Proteins that were differentially expressed between the groups were analyzed using 2D-PAGE and identified by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Selected proteins were validated using Western blot analysis. One of the differentially expressed proteins, the carbohydrate-binding protein galectin-1 (Gal-1), was further analyzed using immunohistochemistry HC and its expression was correlated with clinicopathologic and outcome parameters in 143 advanced-stage cHL cases. At the univariate level, high Gal-1 expression in the tumor microenvironment was correlated with poor event-free survival (P = .02). Among younger (≤ 61 years) patients, high Gal-1 was correlated with poorer overall and event-free survival (both P = .007). In this patient group and at the multivariate level, high Gal-1 expression retained a significant predictive impact on event-free survival. Therefore, in addition to its functional role in cHL-induced immunosuppression, Gal-1 is also associated with an adverse clinical outcome in this disease.

The Management of Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Past, Present, and Future

The management of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) is a success story of modern multi-agent haemato-oncology. Prior to the middle of the twentieth century CHL was fatal in the majority of cases. Introduction of single agent radiotherapy (RT) demonstrated for the first time that these patients could be cured. Developments in chemotherapy including the mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisolone (MOPP) and Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) regimens have resulted in cure rates of over 80%. Even in relapse, CHL patients can be salvaged with high dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Challenges remain, however, in finding new strategies to manage the small number of patients who continue to relapse or progress. In addition, the young age of many Hodgkin's patients forces difficult decisions in balancing the benefit of early disease control against the survival disadvantage of late toxicity. In this article we aim to summarise past trials, define the current standard of care and appraise future developments in the management of CHL.

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma arising in different host's conditions: pathobiology parameters, therapeutic options, and outcome

Epidemiologic and molecular findings suggest that classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) is not a single disease but consists of more than one entity and may occur in different clinical settings. This review analyzes similarities and disparities among CHL entities arising in different host's conditions with respect to pathobiology parameters, therapeutic options, and outcome. For the purpose of this analysis, CHL entities have been subdivided according to the immune status of the host. In nonimmunosuppressed hosts, according to the age, CHL include pediatric, adult, and elderly forms, whereas, in immunosuppressed hosts, according to the type of immunosuppression, CHL include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated, iatrogenic, and post-transplant types. CHL entities in different settings are similar in morphology of neoplastic cells, expression of activation markers, and aberrations/activation of NFKB, JAK/STAT, and P13K/AKT pathways, but differ in the association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, persistent B-cell phenotype, and cellular background composition. Large B-cell lymphomas resembling CHL may also be observed in the same clinical settings. These lesions, however, do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of CHL and clinically display a very aggressive behavior. In this article, current treatment options for the CHL entities, especially for elderly CHL and HIV-associated CHL, are specifically reviewed. ABVD remains the gold standard both in nonimmunosuppressed or immunosuppressed hosts even if there are several data suggesting a possible improvement in outcome using the aggressive BEACOPP regimen in advanced stages. Refractory CHL, a clinical condition that may occur throughout the entire spectrum of CHL, is discussed separately.

The Past: What We Have Learned in the Last Decade

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has become a curable malignancy for most patients during the last decades. However, many controversies still exist on the optimal strategy of how to cure our patients. The key question is how to balance the risks and toxicities of chemotherapy and radiotherapy against the need for a definite treatment for early or advanced-stage HL patients. However, although many studies have been conducted and reported during the past decade, interpretation of their results and treatment recommendations might vary significantly in different countries. For example, early-stage HL might be divided into two different subgroups: early favorable and early unfavorable or not. Treatment of early-stage HL might include radiotherapy (“combined modality”) or not. Depending on the extent of radiotherapy, the schedule and number of chemotherapy cycles are also questioned. For advanced-stage HL, the situation is not much different. Compared with ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine), the more aggressive escalated BEACOPP regimen (bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) is highly effective, but also raises concern due to excessive toxicity. Thus, there is a controversy about the standard of care for advanced HL patients. Because no mature results comparing these approaches with each other are currently available, it remains our duty to share the preliminary information with our patients and to figure out the most appropriate individual treatment strategy. Of course, the discussion of these issues is influenced by experiences and preferences. In contrast, in this article, we will try to focus on the available scientific evidence regarding the first-line treatment of HL. Of course, focusing on the last decade necessarily exclude the most recent results from ongoing studies. Thus, even though this article comprises treatment recommendations for HL patients, the best treatment certainly still is within properly designed prospective clinical trials.

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: guidelines of the Italian Society of Hematology, the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, and the Italian Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation on initial work-up, management, and follow-up

The Italian Society of Hematology (SIE), the Italian Society of Experimental Haematology (SIES) and the Italian Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (GITMO) commissioned a project to develop practice guidelines for the initial work-up, therapy and follow-up of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. Key questions to the clinical evaluation and treatment of this disease were formulated by an Advisory Committee, discussed and approved by an Expert Panel (EP) composed of senior hematologists and one radiotherapist. After a comprehensive and systematic literature review, the EP recommendations were graded according to their supporting evidence. An explicit approach to consensus methodologies was used for evidence interpretation and for producing recommendations in the absence of a strong evidence. The EP decided that the target domain of the guidelines should include only classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, as defined by the WHO classification, and exclude lymphocyte predominant histology. Distinct recommendations were produced for initial work-up, first-line therapy of early and advanced stage disease, monitoring procedures and salvage therapy, including hemopoietic stem cell transplant. Separate recommendations were formulated for elderly patients. Pre-treatment volumetric CT scan of the neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis is mandatory, while FDG-PET is recommended. As to the therapy of early stage disease, a combined modality approach is still recommended with ABVD followed by involved-field radiotherapy; the number of courses of ABVD will depend on the patient risk category (favorable or unfavorable). Full-term chemotherapy with ABVD is recommended in advanced stage disease; adjuvant radiotherapy in patients without initial bulk who achieved a complete remission is not recommended. In the elderly, chemotherapy regimens more intensive than ABVD are not recommended. Early evaluation of response with FDG-PET scan is suggested. Relapsed or refractory patients should receive high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hemopoietic stem cells transplant. Allogeneic transplant is recommended in patients relapsing after autologous transplant. All fertile patients should be informed of the possible effects of therapy on gonadal function and fertility preservation measures should be taken before the initiation of therapy.

Molecular profiling of classical Hodgkin lymphoma tissues uncovers variations in the tumor microenvironment and correlations with EBV infection and outcome

The outcome of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients may be related to the tumor microenvironment, which in turn may be influenced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. To characterize the cHL microenvironment, a set of 63 cHL tissue samples was profiled using DNA microarrays. Their gene expression profile differed from that of histiocyte T cell-rich B-cell lymphoma (H/TCRBCL) samples that were used as controls, mainly due to high expression of PDCD1/PD-1 in H/TCRBCL. EBV(+) cHL tissues could be distinguished from EBV(-) samples by a gene signature characteristic of Th1 and antiviral responses. Samples from cHL patients with favorable outcome overexpressed genes specific for B cells and genes involved in apoptotic pathways. An independent set of 146 cHL samples was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. It showed a significant adverse value in case of high percentage of either TIA-1(+)-reactive cells or topoisomerase-2(+) tumor cells, whereas high numbers of BCL11A(+), FOXP3(+), or CD20(+) reactive cells had a favorable influence. Our results suggest an antitumoral role for B cells in the cHL microenvironment and a stronger stromal influence of the PD1 pathway in H/TCRBCL than cHL. The observation of Th1/ antiviral response in EBV(+) cHL tissues provides a basis for novel treatment strategies.

Twenty-year disease and treatment-associated mortality rates of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma of clinical stages IIIB and IV prospectively treated with 3-month anthracycline-based chemotherapy followed by extended high-dose radiation

BACKGROUND

In 1981, the authors developed an original strategy combining 3 cycles of doxorubicin (adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) or ABVD-like chemotherapy and extended high-dose radiation for treating patients with clinical stages IIIB and IV Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In the current study, the authors analyzed the 20-year results of this treatment as applied to 213 patients according to 2 successive trials.

METHODS

All patients who responded to chemotherapy received extended high-dose radiation. The rates of complete remission (CR), freedom from disease progression (FFP), HL-specific survival (HLSS), second tumors and cardiac events, freedom from treatment-associated mortality (FFTM), overall survival (OS), and event-free survival were calculated.

RESULTS

In December 2006, the median follow-up of the surviving patients exceeded 13 years; 102 patients (48%) achieved a CR after chemotherapy and 178 patients (84%) did so after radiotherapy. The rates of FFP (61%, quasi-stable after 6 years) and HLSS (81.6%, stable after 12 years) were found to be significantly higher in patients who achieved a CR after chemotherapy. The incidence of hematologic malignancies was 10.9% (with 10 of 12 events occurring within the first 7 years). The rates of solid tumors (32.4%), cardiac events (33.4%), and FFTM (65.6%) did not reach any plateau by 20 years and were found to be significantly associated with patient age. The 20-year OS rate was 48%.

CONCLUSIONS

This combined modality treatment gave long-term results similar to those obtained using 6 to 8 cycles of ABVD. Response to the initial brief chemotherapy administration was found to be predictive of the FFP and HLSS rates. The low rate of FFTM was the result of extended high-dose radiation. The results of the current study should help to design future trials for treating patients with advanced stages of HL.

A weekly regimen with dose escalation of doxorubicin for patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a phase II study of the Groupe d'Etudes des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA)

This multicenter phase II study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a weekly chemotherapy regimen with a moderately escalated dose of doxorubicin administered over 16 weeks, followed by radiation therapy (RT) to bulky sites. From July 1996 to February 1998, 44 untreated patients with stage IIIB-IV Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and 0 - 2 risk factors described by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, were treated. Chemotherapy was a combination of increased-dose doxorubicin with conventional doses of cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, prednisone, vindesine, bleomycin, and etoposide. Patients received four cycles of the weekly regimen for 16 weeks. Forty-one patients received the planned four cycles of chemotherapy, and RT was delivered to 36 patients. The incidence of WHO grade 3 - 4 neutropenia was 90%. A total of 39 patients achieved a complete remission (88.6%). The median follow-up was 95 months. The 7-years freedom from treatment failure and overall survival estimates were 57% (95% confidence interval (CI), 41% - 70%), and 93% (95% CI, 80 - 98%), respectively. The relapse rate was related to the short duration of chemotherapy, and the failure to prevent relapses with consolidation RT. In this study population the 16-week regimen and RT to bulky sites were not sufficient for disease control.

Radiotherapy of hodgkin lymphoma: indications, new fields, and techniques

In recent years, radiotherapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma has evolved considerably because of sophisticated imaging technologies and radiation delivery techniques. Even more recently, a new radiation field concept has emerged to ensure better normal tissue protection while preserving an excellent clinical outcome. The role of radiation therapy is also rapidly changing because the concept of a risk-adapted treatment strategy, in which combined-modality treatments were the order of the day, is now expanding into a concept of response-adapted treatments.

Radioimmunotherapy of refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma with 90Y-labelled antiferritin antibody

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiolabelled rabbit polyclonal antiferritin antibody in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. The protocol included a first intravenous injection of In-labelled antiferritin antibody, followed by immunoscintigraphy at 4, 48 and 72 h, and an intravenous injection of Y-labelled antiferritin antibody in the case of tumour targeting. Ten patients were included in the study: median number of chemotherapy regimens: 3; number of autografted patients: 8; number of previously irradiated patients: 9; response to last chemotherapy: six partial response and four progressions. All immunoscintigraphies showed tumour targeting. Nine patients were treated, as the last patient died from progressive Hodgkin's lymphoma before therapeutic injection. Median injected activity was 12 MBq/kg (0.32 mCi/kg). Among the 10 patients who were included in the study, one complete response and six partial responses were observed (overall response rate 70%) with a median duration of response of 8 months (range: 7-12 months). Toxicity was mainly haematological, with grade 1 or 2 neutropenia and anaemia, and grade 2 and 3 thrombocytopenia. The pharmacokinetic study showed that the half-lives of In and Y were almost identical. These results confirm those previously reported and show the therapeutic potential of rabbit polyclonal antiferritin antibody in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. They therefore justify further multicentre prospective trials.

Involved-field radiotherapy for patients in partial remission after chemotherapy for advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma

PURPOSE

The use of radiotherapy in patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of radiotherapy in patients with advanced HL who were in partial remission (PR) after chemotherapy.

METHODS

In a prospective randomized trial, patients <70 years old with previously untreated Stage III-IV HL were treated with six to eight cycles of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone/doxorubicin, bleomycine, vinblastine hybrid chemotherapy. Patients in complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy were randomized between no further treatment and involved-field radiotherapy (IF-RT). Those in PR after six cycles received IF-RT (30 Gy to originally involved nodal areas and 18-24 Gy to extranodal sites with or without a boost).

RESULTS

Of 739 enrolled patients, 57% were in CR and 33% in PR after chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 7.8 years. Patients in PR had bulky mediastinal involvement significantly more often than did those in CR after chemotherapy. The 8-year event-free survival and overall survival rate for the 227 patients in PR who received IF-RT was 76% and 84%, respectively. These rates were not significantly different from those for CR patients who received IF-RT (73% and 78%) or for those in CR who did not receive IF-RT (77% and 85%). The incidence of second malignancies in patients in PR who were treated with IF-RT was similar to that in nonirradiated patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients in PR after six cycles of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone/doxorubicine, bleomycine, vinblastine treated with IF-RT had 8-year event-free survival and overall survival rates similar to those of patients in CR, suggesting a definite role for RT in these patients.