Dose-response relationship of complementary radiotherapy following four cycles of combination chemotherapy in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's disease

The role of response adapted therapy in the era of novel agents

The optimal treatment of classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) requires an individualized approach, with therapy guided by pretreatment clinical risk stratification and interim response assessment with positron emission tomography (PET). The overall goal is to achieve high cure rates while minimizing acute toxicity and late therapy-related effects. Interim PET-adapted strategies (iPET) were initially developed with traditional chemotherapy, reducing intensity after interim complete response and escalating treatment for patients with iPET+ disease. Recently, novel agents including brentuximab vedotin and the checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies (CPIs) pembrolizumab and nivolumab have been adopted into the front-line treatment of cHL, and PET-adapted approaches may be relevant for these drugs as well. In this review we discuss response-adapted strategies utilizing novel agents, consider challenges including indeterminate radiographic findings with CPIs, and address emerging techniques for response assessment including new PET-based imaging metrics and the role of circulating tumor DNA.

Significance of E-lesions in Hodgkin lymphoma and the creation of a new consensus definition: a report from SEARCH

The International Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization for Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL) seeks to provide an appropriate, universal differentiation between E-lesions and stage IV extranodal disease in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). A literature search was performed through the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the terms "Hodgkin disease," and "extranodal," "extralymphatic," "E lesions," "E stage," or "E disease." Publications were reviewed for the number of participants; median age and age range; diagnostic modalities used for staging; and the definition, incidence, and prognostic significance of E-lesions. Thirty-six articles describing 12 640 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most articles reported staging per the Ann Arbor (72%, 26/36) or Cotswolds modification of the Ann Arbor staging criteria (25%, 9/36), and articles rarely defined E-lesions or disambiguated "extranodal disease." The overall incidence of E-lesions for patients with stage I-III HL was 11.5% (1330/11 602 unique patients). Available stage-specific incidence analysis of 3888 patients showed a similar incidence of E-lesions in stage II (21.2%) and stage III (21.9%), with E-lesions rarely seen with stage I disease (1.1%). E-lesions likely remain predictive, but we cannot unequivocally conclude that identifying E-lesions in HL imparts prognostic value in the modern era of the more selective use of targeted radiation therapy. A harmonized E-lesion definition was reached based on the available evidence and the consensus of the SEARCH working group. We recommend that this definition of E-lesion be applied in future clinical trials with explicit reporting to confirm the prognostic value of E-lesions.

The impact of modern radiotherapy on radiation-induced late sequelae: Focus on early-stage mediastinal classical Hodgkin Lymphoma. A critical review by the Young Group of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)

INTRODUCTION

The historically feared radiation-induced secondary cancers and cardiac toxicities observed among mediastinal classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) patients may still negatively burden the benefit of radiotherapy among long-term survivors. Modern radiotherapy (RT) delivery techniques, including intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) and deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) solutions, are drastically changing this scenario. Results of a literature overview are reported and discussed in this paper.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Key references were derived from a PubMed query. Hand searching and clinicaltrials.gov were also used.

RESULTS

This paper contains a narrative report and a critical discussion of organs-at-risk dose-volume metrics linked with radiation-induced toxicities in cHL patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The scenario of early-stage cHL presents long-life expectancies, thus the goal of treatment should aim at maintaining high cure rates and limiting the onset of late complications. Further evaluations of dosimetric measures and clinical outcomes are warranted to identify patients at higher risk to target treatment tailoring.

Low-dose consolidation radiation therapy for early stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma

PURPOSE

The German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) trial HD11 established 4 cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) and 30 Gy of radiation therapy (RT) as a standard for early stage (I, II), unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Additional cycles of ABVD may allow for a reduction in RT dose and improved toxicity profile.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients treated with combined modality therapy at the Duke Cancer Institute for early stage, unfavorable HL by GHSG criteria from 1994 to 2012 were included. Patients who did not undergo post-chemotherapy functional imaging (positron emission tomography or gallium imaging) or who failed to achieve a complete response were excluded. Clinical outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Late effects were also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 90 patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. Median follow-up was 5 years. Chemotherapy consisted primarily of ABVD (88%) with a median number of 6 cycles. The median dose of consolidation RT was 23.4 Gy. Four patients had relapses, 2 of which were in-field. Ten-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 93% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.97) and 98% (95% CI: 0.92-0.99), respectively. For the subset of patients (n=46) who received 5 to 6 cycles of chemotherapy and ≤ 24 Gy, the 10-year PFS and OS values were 88% (95% CI: 70%-96%) and 98% (95% CI: 85% - 99%), respectively. The most common late effect was hypothyroidism (20%) with no cardiac complications. Seven secondary malignancies were diagnosed, with only 1 arising within the RT field.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower doses of RT may be sufficient when combined with more than 4 cycles of ABVD for early stage, unfavorable HL and may result in a more favorable toxicity profile than 4 cycles of ABVD and 30 Gy of RT.

Risk assessment in the management of newly diagnosed classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma is associated with 2 major types of risk: that the treatment may fail to cure the disease or that the treatment will prove unacceptably toxic. Careful assessment of the amount of the lymphoma (tumor burden), its behavior (extent of invasion or specific organ compromise), and host related factors (age; coincident systemic infection; and organ dysfunction, especially hematopoietic, cardiac, or pulmonary) is essential to optimize outcome. Elaborately assembled prognostic scoring systems, such as the International Prognostic Factors Project score, have lost their accuracy and value as increasingly effective chemotherapy and supportive care have been developed. Identification of specific biomarkers derived from sophisticated exploration of Hodgkin lymphoma biology is bringing promise of further improvement in targeted therapy in which effectiveness is increased at the same time off-target toxicity is diminished. Parallel developments in functional imaging are providing additional potential to evaluate the efficacy of treatment while it is being delivered, allowing dynamic assessment of risk during chemotherapy and adaptation of the therapy in real time. Risk assessment in Hodgkin lymphoma is continuously evolving, promising ever greater precision and clinical relevance. This article explores the past usefulness and the emerging potential of risk assessment for this imminently curable malignancy.

Modern radiotherapeutic strategies in the management of lymphoma

ABSTRACT 

The history of radiation therapy in the treatment of malignancies is closely linked to its use in Hodgkin lymphoma. It was less than a decade after the first publication on x-rays that radiotherapy was used in the treatment of a Hodgkin lymphoma. Over time, radiotherapy has evolved with newer technology and better understanding of radiobiology. During this same time frame, the treatment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas has also seen great progress. This review will provide detail on modern radiotherapy techniques, indications for utilization, and modern radiation field sizes and doses.

Outcomes for patients with the same disease treated inside and outside of randomized trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether participation in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), irrespective of assigned treatment, is harmful or beneficial to participants. We compared outcomes for patients with the same diagnoses who did ("insiders") and did not ("outsiders") enter RCTs, without regard to the specific therapies received for their respective diagnoses.

METHODS

By searching the MEDLINE (1966-2010), Embase (1980-2010), CENTRAL (1960-2010) and PsycINFO (1880-2010) databases, we identified 147 studies that reported the health outcomes of "insiders" and a group of parallel or consecutive "outsiders" within the same time period. We prepared a narrative review and, as appropriate, meta-analyses of patients' outcomes.

RESULTS

We found no clinically or statistically significant differences in outcomes between "insiders" and "outsiders" in the 23 studies in which the experimental intervention was ineffective (standard mean difference in continuous outcomes -0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.1 to 0.04) or in the 7 studies in which the experimental intervention was effective and was received by both "insiders" and "outsiders" (mean difference 0.04, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.13). However, in 9 studies in which an effective intervention was received only by "insiders," the "outsiders" experienced significantly worse health outcomes (mean difference -0.36, 95% CI -0.61 to -0.12).

INTERPRETATION

We found no evidence to support clinically important overall harm or benefit arising from participation in RCTs. This conclusion refutes earlier claims that trial participants are at increased risk of harm.

Recommendations for the use of radiotherapy in nodal lymphoma

These guidelines have been developed to define the use of radiotherapy for lymphoma in the current era of combined modality treatment taking into account increasing concern over the late side-effects associated with previous radiotherapy. The role of reduced volume and reduced doses is addressed, integrating modern imaging with three-dimensional planning and advanced techniques of treatment delivery. Both wide-field and involved-field techniques have now been supplanted by the use of defined volumes based on node involvement shown on computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and applying the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements concepts of gross tumour volume (GTV), clinical target volume (CTV) and planning target volume (PTV). The planning of lymphoma patients for radical radiotherapy should now be based upon contrast enhanced 3 mm contiguous CT with three-dimensional definition of volumes using the convention of GTV, CTV and PTV. The involved-site radiotherapy concept defines the CTV based on the PET-defined pre-chemotherapy sites of involvement with an expansion in the cranio-caudal direction of lymphatic spread by 1.5 cm, constrained to tissue planes such as bone, muscle and air cavities. The margin allows for uncertainties in PET resolution, image registration and changes in patient positioning and shape. There is increasing evidence in both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma that traditional doses are higher than necessary for disease control and related to the incidence of late effects. No more than 30 Gy for Hodgkin and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 24 Gy for indolent lymphomas is recommended; lower doses of 20 Gy in combination therapy for early-stage low-risk Hodgkin lymphoma may be sufficient. As yet there are no large datasets validating the use of involved-site radiotherapy; these will emerge from the current generation of clinical trials. Radiotherapy remains the most effective single modality in the treatment of lymphoma. A reduction in both treatment volume and overall treatment dose should now be considered to minimise the risks of late sequelae. However, it is important that this is not at the expense of the excellent disease control currently achieved.

Vincristine induced neurotoxicity in cancer patients

Ten out of 20 children, treated with usual doses of vincristine for various types of childhood cancers, developed neurotoxicity during treatment. Peripheral neurotoxicity (mixed motor-sensory 4/10, pure motor 3/10, pure sensory 3/10) was seen in the form of weakness of lower limbs, areflexia, neuropathic pain, or sensory loss. Autonomic neuropathy presented as constipation and urinary retention in 2 children, while 2 children developed encephalopathy in form of seizures, confusion, aphasia, and transient blindness. In children with severe neuropathy, vincristine administration was withheld/dose reduced till clinical improvement started, which took about 2-3 weeks time. Nerve conduction velocity showed motor-sensory axonal polyneuropathy. Electrophysiological abnormalities were found to persist even six months after clinical recovery in children with neurotoxicity. We found a relatively higher incidence of vincristine induced neuropathy in Indian children, which was probably due to coexistence of severe malnutrition in them.

Colonic crypt organization and tumorigenesis

An appreciation of colonic crypt organization has become essential to any understanding of tumorigenesis in the colon. Intestinal crypts house tissue-specific, multipotential stem cells, which are located in the niche at the base of the intestinal crypt and are capable of regenerating all intestinal cell types. Recent advances in our understanding of crypt biology, including how mutations in stem cells become fixed and expand within the epithelium, has led to new theories on the origins of colonic adenomas and cancers.

Limited-stage disease: optimal use of chemotherapy and radiation treatment

In the early years of treatment for limited-stage Hodgkin lymphoma there was an understandable focus on disease elimination. This has been replaced by concerns about the amount and balance of different therapies and eventually, as cure rates improve, a desire to individualize management based on risk factors at presentation and response to initial treatment. In limited stage Hodgkin lymphoma, early success was obtained with wide field radiotherapy but later combined modality approaches were employed to overcome the problem of out of field radiotherapy relapses. The acute and delayed toxicity of alkylating agent based therapies led to their replacement with ABVD and concerns about the late toxicity of radiotherapy resulted in smaller field sizes being first assessed in clinical trial and later introduced into clinical practice. The current standard of care of 3 or 4 cycles of ABVD followed by involved-field radiotherapy in clinically staged patients is the culmination of years of work involving many thousands of patients taking part in clinical trials. Our current focus is on the role of PET imaging and whether a response-adapted approach guided by PET can individualize therapy such that radiotherapy and its attendant late toxicity that impacts on future quality of life and survival can be avoided altogether in a subset of patients.

Combined immunochemotherapy with reduced whole-brain radiotherapy for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma

PURPOSE

Our goals were to evaluate the safety of adding rituximab to methotrexate (MTX)-based chemotherapy for primary CNS lymphoma, determine whether additional cycles of induction chemotherapy improve the complete response (CR) rate, and examine effectiveness and toxicity of reduced-dose whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) after CR.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty patients (17 women; median age, 57 years; median Karnofsky performance score, 70) were treated with five to seven cycles of induction chemotherapy (rituximab, MTX, procarbazine, and vincristine [R-MPV]) as follows: day 1, rituximab 500 mg/m2; day 2, MTX 3.5 gm/m2 and vincristine 1.4 mg/m2. Procarbazine 100 mg/m2/d was administered for 7 days with odd-numbered cycles. Patients achieving CR received dose-reduced WBRT (23.4 Gy), and all others received standard WBRT (45 Gy). Two cycles of high-dose cytarabine were administered after WBRT. CSF levels of rituximab were assessed in selected patients, and prospective neurocognitive evaluations were performed.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 37 months, 2-year overall and progression-free survival was 67% and 57%, respectively. Forty-four percent of patients achieved a CR after five or fewer cycles, and 78% after seven cycles. The overall response rate was 93%. Nineteen of 21 CR patients received the planned 23.4 Gy WBRT. The most commonly observed grade 3 to 4 toxicities included neutropenia (43%), thrombocytopenia (36%), and leukopenia (23%). No treatment-related neurotoxicity has been observed.

CONCLUSION

The addition of rituximab to MPV increased the risk of significant neutropenia requiring routine growth factor support. Additional cycles of R-MPV nearly doubled the CR rate. Reduced-dose WBRT was not associated with neurocognitive decline, and disease control to date is excellent.

Long-term Events in Adult Patients with Clinical Stage IA-IIA Nonbulky Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treated with Four Cycles of Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine and Adjuvant Radiotherapy: A Single-Institution 15-Year Follow-up

PURPOSE

To report on long-term events after short doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy in favorable early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We monitored late events and causes of death over 15 years (median follow-up, 120 months) in 120 patients with nonbulky stage IA-IIA Hodgkin's lymphoma, treated with four cycles of ABVD and limited radiotherapy. Pulmonary and cardiac function tests were done throughout the follow-up. Outcome measures included cause-specific mortality, standardized mortality ratio, and standardized incidence ratio for secondary neoplasia.

RESULTS

Projected 15-year event-free and overall survival were 78% and 86%, and tumor mortality was 3%. Standardized mortality ratio was significantly higher than 1 for both males (2.8; P=0.029) and females (9.4; P=0.003). The risk of cardiovascular events at 5 and 12 years was 5.5% and 14%, with a median latent time of 67 months (range: 23-179 months) from the end of radiotherapy. Pulmonary toxicity developed in 8% of patients; all had received mediastinal irradiation and the median time from radiotherapy to pulmonary sequelae was 76 weeks (range: 50-123 weeks). The risk of secondary neoplasia at 5 and 12 years was 4% and 8%, respectively, with no cases of leukemia. Fertility was preserved.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term events were mostly related to radiotherapy; the role of short ABVD chemotherapy was very limited, as documented by fertility preservation and lack of secondary myelodysplasia/leukemia. A proportion of patients died from causes unrelated to disease progression and the excess mortality risk was mostly due to the occurrence of secondary neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. A moderate dose reduction of radiotherapy from 40-44 Gy to 30-36 Gy did not decrease the risk of late complications; abolishing radiotherapy in nonbulky early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma is being evaluated.

Advances in Biology, Diagnostics, and Treatment of Hodgkin’s Disease

Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells are derived from germinal center B cells. Amplification of identical rearranged and mutated immunoglobulin genes from different Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells from the same patient also answered the question of the malignant nature because the clonality-the key criterion of malignancy-of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells was hereby shown. In addition, it could be demonstrated that Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells do not only expand clonally within 1 affected lymph node, but also clonally disseminate in advanced-stage disease and relapse even after clinical complete remission. Recent publications demonstrate that a probably small subset of Hodgkin disease exists with T-cell derivation of the respective Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells. The management of Hodgkin's disease is undergoing a paradigm shift as a result of very effective drug regimens that are capable of inducing high remission rates, the use of combined chemoradiotherapy with involved-field irradiation in early stages, the introduction of effective salvage chemotherapy of relapsed Hodgkin's disease with peripheral stem cell transplantation, a better understanding of prognostic factors, economic constraints, and a more sensitive realization of the magnitude of late treatment mortality.

Combined-modality therapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma: long-term data from a Phase II multicenter study (Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group)

PURPOSE

To assess, in a multicenter setting, the long-term outcomes of a brief course of high-dose methotrexate followed by radiotherapy for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Forty-six patients were entered in a Phase II protocol consisting of methotrexate (1 g/m(2) on Days 1 and 8), followed by whole-brain irradiation (45-50.4 Gy). The median follow-up time was 7 years, with a minimum follow-up of 5 years.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival estimate was 37% (+/-14%, 95% confidence interval [CI]), with progression-free survival being 36% (+/-15%, 95% CI), and median survival 36 months. Of the original 46 patients, 10 were alive, all without evidence of disease recurrence. A total of 11 patients have developed neurotoxicity, with the actuarial risk being 30% (+/-18%, 95% CI) at 5 years but continuing to increase. For patients aged>60 years the risk of neurotoxicity at 7 years was 58% (+/-30%, 95% CI).

CONCLUSION

Combined-modality therapy, based on high-dose methotrexate, results in improved survival outcomes in PCNSL. The risk of neurotoxicity for patients aged>60 years is unacceptable with this regimen, although survival outcomes for patients aged>60 years were higher than in many other series.

Transformation in the use of radiation therapy of Hodgkin lymphoma: new concepts and indications lead to modern field design and are assisted by PET imaging and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

The role of radiation therapy (RT) in Hodgkin lymphoma has changed substantially; it has evolved from a first-line comprehensive single agent into a complementary adjuvant following chemotherapy. Yet, the significant contribution of adding radiotherapy has repeatedly been confirmed by recent information from several prospective randomized trials in early stage patients (CCG, Canada NCIC, and EORTC/GELA H9F). In a recent study that included patients of all stages adding radiotherapy impacted significantly on overall survival. Even in advanced-stage disease, in patients with less than CR, and/or bulky disease or in programs that use short-course chemotherapy (e.g. Stanford V) involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) remained essential. Randomized studies and most recently the GHSG HD 10 and HD 11 documented excellent results with low-dose IFRT of only 20 Gy in both early stage and in intermediate-stage patients. It is now standard of care to use IFRT rather than the extended radiation fields of the past (mantle, inverted Y, and STLI/TLI). Even smaller volumes than IFRT, such as 'lymph-node fields' are advocated by paediatrics groups and are under consideration for future adults treatment programs. This change in RT concept has been motivated by need to reduce normal tissue exposure in order to markedly lessen the risk of late complications. The small fields of current radiotherapy allow more conformal and innovative approaches that have not been technically feasible in the past. They also mandate better targeting. Both the accuracy and the confirmality of 'min-radiation' are augmented, by using new advances in imaging, treatment planning, and new radiation delivery systems. The PET/CT/Simulator integrated hardware with innovative software allows more accurate PET and CT (or MRI) parallel volume contouring, radiation 'dose painting' (dose tailored to PET residual activity) and field 'sculpting'. Introducing intensity modulated radiotherapy technology (IMRT)--a technology that was originally designed for small tumors treated with very high doses--to the field of lymphoma provides safer and more accurate radiotherapy to selected patients with very bulky residual disease and permits re-irradiation of relapsed disease.

Hodgkin's lymphoma in elderly patients: a comprehensive retrospective analysis from the German Hodgkin's Study Group

PURPOSE

With improved prognosis for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), interest increasingly focuses on high-risk groups such as elderly patients. We thus performed a retrospective analysis using the German Hodgkin's Study Group (GHSG) database to determine clinical risk factors, course of treatment, and outcome in elderly HL patients in comparison with younger adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 4,251 patients included in the GHSG studies HD5 to HD9 were analyzed, of whom 372 (8.8%) were 60 years or older and 3,879 (91.2%) were younger than 60 years. Patient characteristics, treatment results, toxicity, freedom from treatment failure (FFTF), and overall survival (OS) were compared.

RESULTS

Elderly patients more often had mixed cellularity subtype, "B" symptoms, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and poorer performance status. Less frequently observed were nodular sclerosis subtype, large mediastinal mass, and bulky disease. Acute toxicity during chemotherapy was generally higher in elderly patients. This was most obvious for severe infections (grade 3 or 4; 15% v 6%) correlating with more severe leukopenia in elderly patients (grade 4; 38% v 23%). As a result, significantly fewer elderly patients received the intended full chemotherapy dose (75% v 91%). The survival analysis showed a significantly poorer treatment outcome for elderly patients in terms of 5-year OS (65% v 90%), FFTF (60% v 80%), and HL-specific FFTF (73% v 82%).

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients have a poorer risk profile compared with younger HL patients and experience more severe treatment-associated toxicity. Higher mortality during treatment as well as lower dose-intensity are the major factors explaining the poorer overall outcome of elderly HL patients.

A prospectively randomized trial carried out by the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) for elderly patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease comparing BEACOPP baseline and COPP-ABVD (study HD9elderly)

In contrast to younger patients, the prognosis of elderly patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease (HD) has not improved substantially over the last 20 years. We thus carried out a prospectively randomized study (HD9(elderly)) to compare the BEACOPP regimen in this setting against standard COPP-ABVD. Between February 1993 and 1998, 75 patients aged 66-75 years with newly diagnosed HD in advanced stages were recruited into the HD9 trial as a separate stratum (HD9(elderly)). Patients were assigned to eight alternating cycles of COPP and ABVD or eight cycles of BEACOPP in baseline doses. Radiotherapy was given to initial bulky or residual disease. In total, 68 of 75 registered patients were assessable: 26 were treated with COPP-ABVD and 42 with BEACOPP baseline. There were no significant differences between COPP-ABVD and BEACOPP in terms of complete remission (76%), overall survival (50%) and freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) (46%) at 5 years. At a median follow-up of 80 months, a total of 37 patients died: 14/26 patients (54%) treated with COPP-ABVD and 23/42 patients (55%) with BEACOPP. Two patients (8%) treated with COPP-ABVD and nine patients (21%) treated with BEACOPP died of acute toxicity. Hodgkin-specific FFTF at 5 years was 55% after COPP-ABVD and 74% after BEACOPP (P=0.13). Thus, there are no differences in survival between these regimens in elderly patients.

Combination chemotherapy plus low-dose involved-field radiotherapy for early clinical stage Hodgkin's lymphoma

PURPOSE

To present our long-term experience regarding the use of chemotherapy plus low-dose involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) for clinical Stage I-IIA Hodgkin's lymphoma.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We analyzed the data of 368 patients. Of these, 66 received mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) and 302 received doxorubicin (or epirubicin), bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine [A(E)BVD]. Patients with complete remission or very good partial remission were scheduled for low-dose IFRT (< or =3200 cGy).

RESULTS

The 10-year failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS) rate was 85% and 86%, respectively. A(E)BVD-treated patients had superior 10-year FFS and OS rates compared with MOPP-treated patients (87% vs. 75%, p = 0.009; and 93% vs. 71%, p = 0.0004, respectively). Only 10 of 41 relapses had any infield (irradiated) component. Of the complete responders/very good partial responders treated with low-dose IFRT, those who received <2800 cGy had inferior FFS but similar OS as those who received 2800-3200 cGy. Adverse prognostic factors for FFS included age > or =45 years, leukocytosis > or =10 x 10(9)/L, and extranodal extension. Secondary acute leukemia developed after MOPP with or without salvage therapy (n = 6) or after ABVD plus salvage therapy (n = 2). None of the nine secondary solid tumors developed within the RT fields.

CONCLUSION

IFRT at a dose of 2800-3000 cGy is highly effective in clinical Stage I-IIA HL patients who achieved a complete response or very good partial response with A(E)BVD. The long-term toxicity with respect to secondary malignancies appears to be acceptable.

Treatment of early clinically staged Hodgkin's disease with a combination of ABVD chemotherapy plus limited field radiotherapy

The current management of early stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) is usually based on clinical staging, combined modality therapy and the use of less toxic chemotherapy regimens. This approach entails high cure rates, while ensures less long term toxicity with avoidance of laparotomy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a brief course of Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy followed by limited field radiotherapy (RT) in favorable clinical stage (CS) I and IIA HD. Forty patients, aged 17-68 (median 34) years, with favorable CS I and IIA HD, without bulky mediastinal disease, have been treated with 4-6 (median 4) cycles of ABVD plus limited field RT. Twenty seven (67%) patients received 4 cycles of chemotherapy, while 13 received 5-6 cycles. Thirty five (87%) patients received limited field RT with dose 24-36 Gy and five (13%) received extended field with 36-46 Gy. All patients responded completely to chemotherapy. One patient experienced a relapse two months after the end of therapy. All patients are alive; 39 in continuous complete remission. With a median follow-up period of 44 months (range 18-101) the actuarial overall and progress free survival was 100 and 97% at 5 years. We did not observe any case of secondary leukemia or solid tumor. Pulmonary toxicity was mild in cases of mediastinal irradiation. Considering the short follow-up time and the small number of patients, the combination of a brief course of ABVD plus regional RT is a very efficacious treatment of favorable CS I and IIA HD with mild toxicity. However, long term survival data are needed, which could give confident answers regarding the risk of late therapy related complications, particularly second malignancies.

Involved-field radiotherapy is equally effective and less toxic compared with extended-field radiotherapy after four cycles of chemotherapy in patients with early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of the HD8 trial of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group

PURPOSE

To investigate whether radiotherapy can be reduced without loss of efficacy from extended field (EF) to involved field (IF) after four cycles of chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1993 and 1998, patients with newly diagnosed early-stage unfavorable HD were enrolled onto this multicenter study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (COPP) + doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) for two cycles followed by radiotherapy of 30 Gy EF + 10 Gy to bulky disease (arm A) or 30 Gy IF + 10 Gy to bulky disease (arm B).

RESULTS

Of 1,204 patients randomly assigned to treatment, 1,064 patients were informative and eligible for the arm comparison (532 patients in arm A; 532 patients in arm B). The median observation time was 54 months. Five years after random assignment, the overall survival (OSran) for all eligible patients was 91% and freedom from treatment failure (FFTFran) was 83%. Survival rates at 5 years after start of radiotherapy revealed no differences for arms A and B, respectively, in terms of FFTF (85.8% and 84.2%) and OS at 5 years (90.8% and 92.4%). There also were no differences between arms A and B, respectively, in terms of complete remission (98.5% and 97.2%), progressive disease (0.8% and 1.9%), relapse (6.4% and 7.7%), death (8.1% and 6.4%), and secondary neoplasia (4.5% and 2.8%). In contrast, acute side effects including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, gastrointestinal toxicity, and pharyngeal toxicity were more frequent in the EF arm.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy volume size reduction from EF to IF after COPP + ABVD chemotherapy for two cycles produces similar results and less toxicity in patients with early-stage unfavorable HD.

Current treatment strategies in early stage Hodgkin's disease

Treatment of Hodgkin's disease (HD) is strictly dependent on stage. Historically, early stage HD included the limited stages I, II, and IIIA (according to the Cotsworth modification of the Ann Arbor classification), whereas advanced HD included stage III with B symptoms and stage IV. It was observed that early stage HD with certain clinical risk factors had a significantly worse outcome. As a consequence, several studies defined these patients as suffering from early stage unfavorable (or intermediate stage) HD, demanding a more aggressive treatment.

The management of stage I-II supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease with chemotherapy alone

The treatment of choice for patients with early stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) has been extended field or subtotal nodal irradiation. Remission rates of over 95% have been obtained, however, about 5% of stage I and II patients will suffer from progressive disease while on therapy and an additional 15-20% will relapse. Chemotherapy (Ch) alone has not been adequately tested in early-stage HD. In this study, all HD stage I and II patients treated with Ch alone in the University Hospital "Clínica Puerta de Hierro" between 1980 and 1997 were reviewed. Thirty-five patients were treated between 04/80 and 12/97. All patients achieved complete remission. The median follow-up was 119 months (range 21-240 months), no patients were lost at follow-up. Overall survival (OS) was 97% (IC 95%, 92-100) at 5 years and 88% (IC 95%, 75-100) at 10 years. Failure free survival (FFS) was 93% (IC 95%, 83-100) at 5 years and 66% (IC 95%, 47-86) at 10 years. Three (8.5%) patients died: two due to a second tumour (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloid acute leukaemia) and the other due to sepsis post-Ch. Univariate and multivariate analysis only associated histology subtype relative risk (RR) 4.0 nodular sclerosis (95% IC, 1.0-5.5; p:0.02) with higher relapse. Other prognostic factors did not reveal significant differences with respect to failure free or OS. In conclusion, we believe that death from HD in early-stage patients is unusual and mortality from causes other than HD occurs many years later. Outside clinical trials due to the lack of clear prognostic factors, with the exception of specific situations, patients should be informed of all the possible alternatives as well as the consequences of the treatments employed. In our experience, it appears that using Ch alone in the initial stages does not jeopardize overall patient survival, with similar results being achieved.

Analysis of in-field control and late toxicity for adults with early-stage Hodgkin's disease treated with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy

PURPOSE

We analyzed in-field (IF) control in adults with early-stage Hodgkin's disease who received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (RT) in terms of the (1) chemotherapeutic regimen used and number of cycles delivered, (2) response to chemotherapy, and (3) initial tumor size. Cardiac toxicity and second malignancies, particularly the incidence of solid tumors in terms of the RT field size treated, were also examined.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From 1980 to 1995, 286 patients ranging in age from 16 to 88 years (median: 28 years) with Ann Arbor clinical Stage I or II Hodgkin's disease underwent chemotherapy followed 3 to 4 weeks later by RT. There were 516 nodal sites measuring 0.5 to 19.0 cm at the start of chemotherapy, including 134 cases of bulky mediastinal disease. NOVP, MOPP, ABVD, CVPP/ABDIC, and other chemotherapeutic regimens were given to 161, 67, 19, 18, and 21 patients, respectively. Patients received 1-8 (median: 3) cycles of induction chemotherapy. All 533 gross nodal and extranodal sites of disease were included in the RT fields. The median prescribed RT dose for gross disease was 40.0 Gy given in 20 daily 2.0-Gy fractions. There was little variation in the RT dose. Eighty-five patients were treated with involved-field or regional RT (to one side of the diaphragm), and 201 patients were treated with extended-field RT (to both sides of the diaphragm), based on the protocol on which they were enrolled.

RESULTS

Follow-up of surviving patients ranged from 1.3 to 19.9 years (median: 7.4 years). Based on a review of simulation films, there were 16 IF, 8 marginal, and 15 out-of-field recurrences. The chemotherapeutic regimen used and the number of cycles of chemotherapy delivered did not significantly affect IF control. IF control also did not significantly depend on the response to induction chemotherapy. In cases where there was a confirmed or unconfirmed complete response as opposed to a partial response or stable disease in response to induction chemotherapy for bulky nodal disease, the 5-year IF control rates were 99% and 92%, respectively (p = 0.0006). The 15-year actuarial risks of coronary artery disease requiring surgical intervention and of solid tumors were 4.1% and 16.8%, respectively. There was a trend toward a greater risk of solid tumors in patients who received extended-field RT rather than involved-field or regional RT (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with nonbulky disease, induction chemotherapy followed by RT to a median dose of 40.0 Gy resulted in excellent IF control, regardless of the chemotherapeutic regimen used, the fact that only 1-2 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered, and the response to chemotherapy. There was a trend toward a higher incidence of solid tumors in patients who received consolidation RT to both sides rather than only one side of the diaphragm. Ongoing Phase III trials will help clarify whether lower RT doses and smaller RT fields after chemotherapy can maintain the IF control seen in our study, but with a lower incidence of late complications in patients with Stage I or II Hodgkin's disease.

Hodgkin's lymphoma: biology and treatment strategies for primary, refractory, and relapsed disease

Hodgkin's lymphomas belong to the most curable tumor diseases in adults. About 80% of patients in all anatomical stages and of all histological subtypes can be cured with modern treatment strategies. In spite of the great clinical progress, the pathogenesis of this peculiar lymphoproliferative entity has not been elucidated completely up until now. In Section I Drs. Stein, Hummel, and Zollinger describe the different pro-proliferative and antiapoptotic pathways and molecules involved in the transformation of the germinal center B-lymphocyte to the malignant Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg cell. They use a comprehensive gene expression profiling (Affymetrix gene chip U133A) on B- and T-Hodgkin cell lines and state that the cell of origin is not the dominant determinant of the Hodgkin cell phenotype, but the transforming event. H-RS cells lack specific functional markers (B-T-cell receptors) and physiologically should undergo apoptosis. Why they do not is unclear and a matter of intensive ongoing research. In Section II Dr. Diehl summarizes the commonly used primary treatment strategies adapted to prognostic strata in early, intermediate and advanced anatomical stages using increasing intensities of chemotherapy (two, four, eight courses of chemotherapy such as ABVD) and additive radiation with decreased doses and field size. ABVD is without doubt the gold standard for early and intermediate stages, but its role as the standard regimen for advanced stages is challenged by recent data with time- and dose-intensified regimens such as the escalated BEACOPP, demonstrating superiority over COPP/ABVD (equivalent to ABVD) for FFTF and OS in all risk strata according to the International Prognostic Score. In Section III, Dr. Connors states that fortunately there is a considerably decreased need for salvage strategies in Hodgkin's lymphomas since primary treatment results in a more than 80% tumor control. Nevertheless, a significant number of patients experience either a tumor refractory to therapy or an early or late relapse. Therefore, one of the continuing challenges in the care for Hodgkin's lymphomas today is to find effective modes for a second tumor control. High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell support has proved to be the treatment of choice when disseminated tumors recur after primary chemo- and or radiotherapy. Nodal relapses respond well to local radiation when they recur outfield of primary radiation without B-symptoms and in stages I-II at relapse. Allogeneic stem cell support needs further intensive evaluation in controlled studies to become an established alternative.

Changing role and decreasing size: current trends in radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease

Radiotherapy, the first cancer treatment modality that offered cure, is still considered to be the most effective "single agent" in treating Hodgkin's disease (HD). Yet, the role of radiotherapy in HD has changed dramatically with the advent of effective combination chemotherapy and the rising concern of long-term complications associated with successful treatment of HD. The new principles of integrating radiotherapy into a combined-modality regimen for HD at different prognostic stages are reviewed here, along with the effect of this new role on radiation field size and design.

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.

Approach to Hodgkin's lymphoma in the new millennium

Approximately 75% of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma can be cured with modern chemotherapy and radiation. Most patients are treated according to clinical stage and the associated prognostic factors. For patients with limited stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, combined modality treatment has replaced subtotal nodal irradiation as the preferred treatment option. This approach eliminates laparotomy and potentially decreases the long-term toxicity secondary to extended field irradiation and splenectomy. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that it may improve disease control and possibly survival. Multiple novel regimens have been tested in the past 20 years in patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma including dose-intense regimens, but current evidence suggests that ABVD remains the treatment of choice outside clinical trials. Over the past decade, the treatment-related morbidity and mortality associated with autologous stem cell transplantation have reduced significantly and stem cell transplant is becoming the treatment of choice for most patients with primary refractory or recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma. With longer follow-up, long-term complications, in particular secondary malignancy have become the leading cause of late treatment failure for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. To improve the overall outcome of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, future studies need to focus on reducing the therapy-related toxicity for patients with good risk disease as well as improving disease control for patients with poor risk disease through a risk-adapted approach.

Rapidly alternating COPP/ABV/IMEP is not superior to conventional alternating COPP/ABVD in combination with extended-field radiotherapy in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma: final results of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group Trial HD5

PURPOSE

To investigate whether treatment results in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma can be improved by rapid application of non-cross-resistant drugs, the 10-drug regimen cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (COPP), doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vinblastine (ABV), and ifosfamide, methotrexate, etoposide, and prednisone (IMEP), repeated every 6 weeks, was compared with conventional alternating COPP/doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) administered every 8 weeks.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1988 to January 1993, 996 patients in stage I or II Hodgkin's lymphoma with at least one risk factor (massive mediastinal tumor, massive spleen involvement, extranodal disease, elevated ESR, or more than two lymph node areas involved) and all patients in stage IIIA Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomized to receive two cycles of COPP/ABVD or COPP/ABV/IMEP followed by extended-field radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Both regimens produced similar rates for treatment responses (complete remission, 93% v 94%), freedom from treatment failure (80% v 79%), and overall survival (88% for both regimens) at a median follow-up time of 7 years. Most serious toxicities during chemotherapy were similar in both regimens. However, World Health Organization grade 3 and 4 leukocytopenia occurred significantly more frequently in the COPP/ABV/IMEP arm (53% v 44% of patients; P =.010). There were no differences in the number of serious infections and toxic deaths during therapy. The number of second malignancies was also the same in both arms (22 each).

CONCLUSION

Alternating COPP/ABVD and rapid alternating COPP/ABV/IMEP in combination with extended-field radiotherapy are equally effective in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma and produce excellent long-term treatment results.

[Hodgkin's disease: from gross tumor volume to clinical target volume, firm data and unresolved problems]

The purpose of this article is to specify the target volumes, using ICRU criteria in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Because of the complexity of irradiation fields, the literature was carefully reviewed. However, with the variations of the recommendations and in the absence of large-scale studies, usual criteria can still be used. A consensus about the precise specification of the target volumes on CAT scan is still urgently awaited.

Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and etoposide (CHOPE) for advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease: CALGB 8856

Successful treatment of advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) may critically depend on dose intensity. Because mechlorethamine, Oncovin, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP), and Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) are not suitable for major dose escalation, we evaluated the activity and toxicity of combined cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and etoposide (CHOPE) in advanced HD, here used at conventional dose intensity, as a preparatory study prior to using this regimen at higher dose intensity. Ninety-two patients were treated with CHOPE (cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m2, day 1; doxorubicin, 50 mg/m2, day 1; vincristine, 1.4 mg/m2, days 1 and 8; prednisone, 100 mg/day, days 1-5; and etoposide, 80 mg/m2, days 1, 2, and 3) every 21 days. All had advanced HD with no prior chemotherapy with 46% stage IV, 63% with B symptoms, and 57% with bulky disease (> 5 cm). Radiation and growth factor support were not permitted. Full-dose vincristine (not capped at maximum 2 mg/dose) was used in the first 33 patients. An initial cohort of 41 patients was treated with four cycles of CHOPE to evaluate safety and efficacy followed by four cycles of ABVD. A second cohort of 51 patients was treated with 6-8 cycles of CHOPE alone. Toxicity was generally acceptable and primarily hematologic, with neutrophils < 500 in 63% of cohort I and 90% of cohort II, and platelets < 25,000 in 7% of cohort I and 8% of cohort II. The long-term neurotoxicity of full-dose, high-intensity vincristine was acceptable and largely reversible. In cohort I, 92% of patients achieved a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) with four cycles of CHOPE and 85% were in CR after four additional cycles of ABVD. In cohort II, 77% achieved a CR with 6-8 cycles of CHOPE alone. FFS was 76% in cohort I and 59% in cohort II, with a median follow-up of 8.2 and 5.7 years, respectively. CHOPE, at conventional dose intensity as used here, is an effective first-line regimen for the treatment of advanced-stage HD and may warrant evaluation using higher doses of cyclophosphamide and etoposide with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) support.

Low-dose radiation is sufficient for the noninvolved extended-field treatment in favorable early-stage Hodgkin's disease: long-term results of a randomized trial of radiotherapy alone

PURPOSE

To show that radiotherapy (RT) dose to the noninvolved extended field (EF) can be reduced without loss of efficacy in patients with early-stage Hodgkin's disease (HD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

During 1988 to 1994, pathologically staged patients with stage I or II disease who were without risk factors (large mediastinal mass, extranodal lesions, massive splenic disease, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or three or more involved areas) were recruited from various centers. All patients received 40 Gy total fractionated dose to the involved field areas but were randomly assigned to receive either 40 Gy (arm A) or 30 Gy (arm B) total fractionated dose for the clinically noninvolved EF. No chemotherapy was given. RT films were prospectively reviewed for protocol violations and recurrences retrospectively related to the applied RT.

RESULTS

Of 382 recruited patients, 376 were eligible for randomized comparison, 190 in arm A and 186 in arm B. Complete remission was attained in 98% of patients in each arm. With a median follow-up of 86 months, 7-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were 78% (arm A) and 83% (arm B) (P =.093). The upper 95% confidence limit for the possible inferiority of arm B in RFS was 4%. Corresponding overall survival rates were 91% (arm A) and 96% (arm B) (P =.16). The most common causes of death (n = 27) were cardiorespiratory disease/pulmonary embolisms (seven), second malignancy (six), and HD (five). Protocol violation was associated with significantly poorer RFS. Nonirradiated nodes were involved in 42 of 52 reviewed relapses, infield areas in 18, marginal areas in 17, and extranodal sites in 16.

CONCLUSION

EF-RT alone attains good survival rates in favorable early-stage HD. The 30-Gy dose is adequate for clinically noninvolved areas. Protocol violation worsens the subsequent prognosis. Relapse patterns suggest that systemic therapy can reduce the 20% long-term relapse rate.

Radiation dose selection in Hodgkin's disease patients with large mediastinal adenopathy treated with combined modality therapy

PURPOSE

To determine the effective dose of consolidation radiation in Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients with large mediastinal adenopathy (LMA) treated with combined modality therapy (CMT).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eighty-three HD patients with LMA receiving CMT between 1983 and 1997 at Duke University and Yale University were identified. Patients underwent complete clinical staging. The staging breakdown was: IA, 4 patients; IB, 1 patient; IIA, 25 patients; IIB, 33 patients; IIIA, 3 patients; IIIB-6 patients; IVA, 2 patients; and IVB, 9 patients. All patients received induction chemotherapy (CT) as follows: MOPP/ABV(D), 31 patients; BCVPP, 15 patients; ABVD, 24 patients; MOPP, 3 patients; and other regimens, 10 patients. Following 6 cycles of CT, patients were restaged and classified as having either complete response (CR) or induction failure (IF). Post-CT gallium scans were obtained in 52 patients. Patients with residual radiographic abnormalities were classified as having CR if they were gallium-negative and clinically well otherwise. Following induction CT, 78 patients had a CR. There were 5 IFs. Consolidation irradiation was administered to all sites of initial involvement in patients who had achieved CR. RT dose varied. Patients were grouped into the following dose ranges: < or = 20 Gy, 12 patients; 20-25 Gy, 24 patients; 25-30 Gy, 30 patients; > or = 30 Gy, 12 patients.

RESULTS

Overall survival and failure-free survival were both 76% at 10 years. Of the 78 CR patients, 15 failed. Patterns of failure were in-field alone, 8 patients; out of field alone, 2 patients; and combined, 5 patients. Failure patterns by RT dose were: < or = 20 Gy, 0/12; 20-25 Gy, 7/24; 25-30 Gy, 5/30; > or = 30 Gy, 3/11. There was no apparent correlation between RT dose and subsequent failure. Post chemotherapy gallium scans were helpful in predicting for failure. Of 48 patients in whom the gallium was negative after chemotherapy, there were 6 failures, compared with 9 failures among 30 patients in whom gallium was not done after chemotherapy (p = 0.066). Additionally, patients receiving adriamycin-based chemotherapy regimens had improved outcomes compared to those not receiving adriamycin (p = 0.03.)

CONCLUSIONS

These retrospective data suggest that low-dose radiotherapy following CR achieved with induction chemotherapy (particularly when documented with gallium scanning) may be as effective as higher doses for bulky HD at presentation. Phase III trials are necessary for confirmation of this hypothesis.

What is the optimal treatment volume in Hodgkin's disease patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and adjuvant radiation therapy?

To determine the optimal treatment volume in Hodgkin's disease patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and radiation therapy (RT), failure sites were reviewed in 56 patients. Twenty-one (38%) received involved-field RT (IFRT) before or after HDCT encompassing sites of prior disease. Failure sites were designated as previously involved (old) or uninvolved (new) sites. Seven patients (12%) died in the immediate post-HDCT period, leaving 49 evaluable (median follow-up, 41 months). Twenty-five patients (51%) relapsed (14 HDCT, 11 HDCT + IFRT): seven (28%) in old, eight (32%) in new, and ten (40%) in old and new sites. Six of the seven who relapsed in old sites received HDCT alone, whereas seven of the eight who relapsed in new sites received IFRT. Relapse in old sites was particularly common in patients failing to achieve a complete response. The most common new failure site was nodal, occurring in 11 patients and was primarily (10/11) adjacent to an old site. Although it controls prior disease, IFRT is insufficient in Hodgkin's disease patients undergoing HDCT. Relapse is common in new nodal sites and is primarily adjacent to prior sites. These results suggest that extended-field RT encompassing old and adjacent uninvolved nodal sites may be the optimal treatment volume in these patients.

EBVD combination chemotherapy plus low dose involved field radiation is a highly effective treatment modality for early stage Hodgkin's disease

To evaluate the efficacy of EBVD combination chemotherapy followed by low dose (LD) involved field (IF) radiation therapy (RT) in patients with clinical stage (CS) I-IIA Hodgkin's disease (HD), we analyzed 148 patients treated in our Unit from March 1988 to November 1995. EBVD consisted of Epirubicine 40 mg/m2, Bleomycin 10 mg/m2, Vinblastine 6 mg/m2 and Dacarbazine 300 mg. All drugs were administered i.v. at days 1 and 15, every 4 weeks, for a total of 4-6 cycles. LDIF RT (24-32 Gy) was scheduled for patients with complete response (CR) or >90% reduction of tumor load, after EBVD. Patients with stable or progressive disease (SD, PD) after EBVDx3 or poor compliance to the regimen received mantle or inverted Y RT at standard dose. The median follow-up of patients currently alive was 71.5 months. 129 patients achieved a CR after EBVD and 10 a >90% reduction of tumor load, for a post-CT response rate of 94%. Eight patients had SD after EBVDx3 and one had a partial response with poor compliance. All 9 patients received mantle or inverted Y RT and 8/9 achieved a CR. Nine patients relapsed at a median of 7 months from the end of treatment. At 10 years, FFS was 90% and overall survival 95%. Six patients have died so far; 5 of HD and one of stroke. One patient developed a diffuse large cell lymphoma 48 months after the diagnosis of HD. We conclude that EBVD followed by LDIF RT is a highly effective regimen for patients with CS I-IIA HD. Longer follow up is required to assess the risk of secondary malignancies, especially solid tumors.

[A quality control program for radiotherapy in Hodgkin's disease]

The importance of the quality of radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease has been stressed, particularly in specific American and German studies. A quality control program for verification of technical files for each patient was implemented during the EORTC H8 protocol for patients with a supra-diaphragmatic stage I & II Hodgkin's disease. Today, 161 technical files have been reviewed. While the definition of the target volumes were in accordance with the protocol for most of the patients, we observed 13.6% of major deviations in terms of treated volumes, and 39.7% of major deviations in terms of dose (for volumes, a number of deviations were in the cervical areas, where the upper limit of the field was lowered in view of protecting the parotids, but the others were due to inadequate margins around the mediastinum and the hilum). Some of the dose deviations were due, in some cases, to the addition of a sub-carinal block after 30 Gy, but also, in cervical areas, in misinterpretation of the protocol. In conclusion, such a quality control program is justified by the number of major deviations which have been observed; it seems justified to carry out this program in the future H9 protocol.