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

Impact of on-trial IGRT quality assurance in an international adaptive radiotherapy trial for participants with bladder cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Radiotherapy trial quality assurance (RT QA) is crucial for ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of radiotherapy trials, and minimizing inter-institutional variations. While previous studies focused on outlining and planning quality assurance (QA), this work explores the process of Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), and adaptive radiotherapy. This study presents findings from during-accrual QA in the RAIDER trial, evaluating concordance between online and offline plan selections for bladder cancer participants undergoing adaptive radiotherapy. RAIDER had two seamless stages; stage 1 assessed adherence to dose constraints of dose escalated radiotherapy (DART) and stage 2 assessed safety. The RT QA programme was updated from stage 1 to stage 2.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from all participants in the adaptive arms (standard dose adaptive radiotherapy (SART) and DART) of the trial was requested (33 centres across the UK, Australia and New Zealand). Data collection spanned September 2015 to December 2022 and included the plans selected online, on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) data. Concordance with the plans selected offline by the independent RT QA central reviewer was evaluated.

RESULTS

Analysable data was received for 72 participants, giving a total of 884 CBCTs. The overall concordance rate was 83% (723/884). From stage 1 to stage 2 the concordance in the plans selected improved from 75% (369/495) to 91% (354/389).

CONCLUSION

During-accrual IGRT QA positively influenced plan selection concordance, highlighting the need for ongoing support when introducing a new technique. Overall, it contributes to advancing the understanding and implementation of QA measures in adaptive radiotherapy trials.

The Feasibility of Quality Assurance in the TOPGEAR International Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Gastric Cancer (an Intergroup Trial of the AGITG/TROG/NHMRC CTC/EORTC/CCTG)

PURPOSE

The TOPGEAR phase 3 trial hypothesized that adding preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) to perioperative chemotherapy will improve survival in patients with gastric cancer. Owing to the complexity of gastric irradiation, a comprehensive radiation therapy quality assurance (RTQA) program was implemented. Our objective is to describe the RTQA methods and outcomes.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

RTQA was undertaken in real time before treatment for the first 5 patients randomized to CRT from each center. Once acceptable quality was achieved, RTQA was completed for one-third of subsequent cases. RTQA consisted of evaluating (1) clinical target volume and organ-at-risk contouring and (2) radiation therapy planning parameters. Protocol violations between high- (20+ patients enrolled) and low-volume centers were compared using the Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

TOPGEAR enrolled 574 patients, of whom 286 were randomized to receive preoperative CRT and 203 (71%) were included for RTQA. Of these, 67 (33%) and 136 (67%) patients were from high- and low-volume centers, respectively. The initial RTQA pass rate was 72%. In total, 28% of cases required resubmission. In total, 200 of 203 cases (99%) passed RTQA before treatment. Cases from low-volume centers required resubmission more often (44/136 [33%] vs 13/67 [18%]; P = .078). There was no change in the proportion of cases requiring resubmission over time. Most cases requiring resubmission had multiple protocol violations. At least 1 aspect of the clinical target volume had to be adjusted in all cases. Inadequate coverage of the duodenum was most common (53% major violation, 25% minor violation). For the remaining cases, the resubmission process was triggered secondary to poor contour/plan quality.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large multicenter trial, RTQA is feasible and effective in achieving high-quality treatment plans. Ongoing education should be performed to ensure consistent quality during the entire study period.

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: From Past to Future-A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Advances

Hodgkin lymphoma, a hematological malignancy of lymphoid origin that typically arises from germinal-center B cells, has an excellent overall prognosis. However, the treatment of patients who relapse or develop resistant disease still poses a substantial clinical and research challenge, even though current risk-adapted and response-based treatment techniques produce overall survival rates of over 95%. The appearance of late malignancies after the successful cure of primary or relapsed disease continues to be a major concern, mostly because of high survival rates. Particularly in pediatric HL patients, the chance of developing secondary leukemia is manifold compared to that in the general pediatric population, and the prognosis for patients with secondary leukemia is much worse than that for patients with other hematological malignancies. Therefore, it is crucial to develop clinically useful biomarkers to stratify patients according to their risk of late malignancies and determine which require intense treatment regimens to maintain the ideal balance between maximizing survival rates and avoiding late consequences. In this article, we review HL's epidemiology, risk factors, staging, molecular and genetic biomarkers, and treatments for children and adults, as well as treatment-related adverse events and the late development of secondary malignancies in patients with the disease.

Radiation Therapy in the German Hodgkin Study Group HD 16 and HD 17 Trials: Quality Assurance and Dosimetric Analysis for Hodgkin Lymphoma in the Modern Era

Purpose

Radiation therapy (RT) is an integral part of treatment concepts for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. This analysis reports on RT quality in the recent HD16 and 17 trials of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG).

Methods and Materials

All RT plans of involved-node radiation therapy (INRT) in HD 17 were requested for analysis, along with 100 and 50 involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) plans in HD 16 and 17, respectively. A structured assessment regarding field design and protocol adherence was performed by the reference radiation oncology panel of the GHSG.

Results

Overall, 100 (HD 16) and 176 (HD 17) patients were eligible for analysis. In HD 16, 84% of RT series were evaluated as correct, with significant improvement compared with the predecessor studies (P < .001). In HD 17, 76.1% of INRT cases revealed a correct RT design compared with 69.0% of IFRT-cases, which was superior to previous studies (P < .001). Comparing INRT and IFRT, we found no significant differences in the percentage of any deviation (P = .418) or major deviations (P = .466). Regarding dosimetry, INRT was accompanied by an improvement in thyroid doses. Comparing different RT techniques, we found that intensity-modulated RT showed a reduction of high doses in the lung at the expense of an increased low-dose exposure in HD 17.

Conclusions

The latest study generation of the GHSG demonstrates an improved quality in RT. A modern INRT design could be established without deterioration in quality. On a conceptual level, an individual consideration of the appropriate RT technique has to be performed.

Innate immune signaling drives late cardiac toxicity following DNA-damaging cancer therapies

Late cardiac toxicity is a potentially lethal complication of cancer therapy, yet the pathogenic mechanism remains largely unknown, and few treatment options exist. Here we report DNA-damaging agents such as radiation and anthracycline chemotherapies inducing delayed cardiac inflammation following therapy due to activation of cGAS- and STING-dependent type I interferon signaling. Genetic ablation of cGAS-STING signaling in mice inhibits DNA damage-induced cardiac inflammation, rescues late cardiac functional decline, and prevents death from cardiac events. Treatment with a STING antagonist suppresses cardiac interferon signaling following DNA-damaging therapies and effectively mitigates cardiac toxicity. These results identify a therapeutically targetable, pathogenic mechanism for one of the most vexing treatment-related toxicities in cancer survivors.

Radiation doses to mediastinal organs at risk in early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma- a risk stratified analysis of the GHSG HD17 trial

Introduction

The German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) HD17 trial established the omission of radiotherapy (RT) for patients with early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma being PET-negative after 2 cycles of BEACOPP escalated plus 2 cycles of ABVD. This patient group reveals heterogeneity in characteristics and disease extent which prompted us to perform a decisive dosimetric analysis according to GHSG risk factors. This may help to tailor RT individually balancing risks and benefits.

Methods

For quality assurance, RT-plans were requested from the treating facilities (n= 141) and analyzed centrally. Dose-volume histograms were scanned either paper-based or digitally to obtain doses to mediastinal organs. These were registered and compared according to GHSG risk factors.

Results

Overall, RT plans of 176 patients were requested, 139 of which had dosimetric information on target volumes within the mediastinum. Most of these patients were stage II (92.8%), had no B-symptoms (79.1%) and were aged < 50 years (89.9%). Risk factors were present in 8.6% (extranodal involvement), 31.7% (bulky disease), 46.0% (elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and 64.0% (three involved areas), respectively. The presence of bulky disease significantly affected the mean RT doses to the heart (p=0.005) and to the left lung (median: 11.3 Gy vs. 9.9 Gy; p=0.042) as well as V5 of the right and left lung, respectively (median right lung: 67.4% vs. 51.0%; p=0.011; median left lung: 65.9% vs. 54.2%; p=0.008). Significant differences in similar organs at risk parameters could be found between the sub-cohorts with the presence or absence of extranodal involvement, respectively. In contrast, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate did not deteriorate dosimetry significantly. No association of any risk factor with radiation doses to the female breast was found.

Conclusion

Pre-chemotherapy risk factors may help to predict potential RT exposure to normal organs and to critically review treatment indication. Individualized risk-benefit evaluations for patients with HL in early-stage unfavorable disease are mandatory.

Single-fraction prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy: Dose reconstruction with electromagnetic intrafraction motion tracking

PURPOSE

To reconstruct the dose delivered during single-fraction urethra-sparing prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) accounting for intrafraction motion monitored by intraprostatic electromagnetic transponders (EMT).

METHODS

We analyzed data of 15 patients included in the phase I/II "ONE SHOT" trial and treated with a single fraction of 19 Gy to the planning target volume (PTV) and 17 Gy to the urethra planning risk volume. During delivery, prostate motion was tracked with implanted EMT. SBRT was interrupted when a 3-mm threshold was trespassed and corrected unless the offset was transient. Motion-encoded reconstructed (MER) plans were obtained by splitting the original plans into multiple sub-beams with isocenter shifts based on recorded EMT positions, mimicking prostate motion during treatment. We analyzed intrafraction motion and compared MER to planned doses.

RESULTS

The median EMT motion range (±SD) during delivery was 0.26 ± 0.09, 0.22 ± 0.14 and 0.18 ± 0.10 cm in the antero-posterior, supero-inferior, and left-right axes, respectively. Treatment interruptions were needed for 8 patients because of target motion beyond limits in the antero-posterior (n = 6) and/or supero-inferior directions (n = 4). Comparing MER vs. original plan there was a median relative dose difference of -1.9% (range, -7.9 to -1.0%) and of +0.5% (-0.3-1.7%) for PTV D_98% and D_2%, respectively. The clinical target volume remained sufficiently covered with a median D_98% difference of -0.3% (-1.6-0.5%). Bladder and rectum dosimetric parameters showed significant differences between original and MER plans, but mostly remained within acceptable limits.

CONCLUSIONS

The dosimetric impact of intrafraction prostate motion was minimal for target coverage for single-fraction prostate SBRT with real-time electromagnetic tracking combined with beam gating.

Urethra-Sparing Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Quality Assurance of a Randomized Phase 2 Trial

PURPOSE

To present the radiation therapy quality assurance results from a prospective multicenter phase 2 randomized trial of short versus protracted urethra-sparing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for localized prostate cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between 2012 and 2015, 165 patients with prostate cancer from 9 centers were randomized and treated with SBRT delivered either every other day (arm A, n = 82) or once a week (arm B, n = 83); 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions were prescribed to the prostate with (n = 92) or without (n = 73) inclusion of the seminal vesicles (SV), and the urethra planning-risk volume received 32.5 Gy. Patients were treated either with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT; n = 112) or with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT; n = 53). Deviations from protocol dose constraints, planning target volume (PTV) homogeneity index, PTV Dice similarity coefficient, and number of monitor units for each treatment plan were retrospectively analyzed. Dosimetric results of VMAT versus IMRT and treatment plans with versus without inclusion of SV were compared.

RESULTS

At least 1 major protocol deviation occurred in 51 patients (31%), whereas none was observed in 41. Protocol violations were more frequent in the IMRT group (P < .001). Furthermore, the use of VMAT yielded better dosimetric results than IMRT for urethra planning-risk volume D_98% (31.1 vs 30.8 Gy, P < .0001), PTV D_2% (37.9 vs 38.7 Gy, P < .0001), homogeneity index (0.09 vs 0.10, P < .0001), Dice similarity coefficient (0.83 vs 0.80, P < .0001), and bladder wall V_50% (24.5% vs 33.5%, P = .0001). To achieve its goals volumetric modulated arc therapy required fewer monitor units than IMRT (2275 vs 3378, P <.0001). The inclusion of SV in the PTV negatively affected the rectal wall V_90% (9.1% vs 10.4%, P = .0003) and V_80% (13.2% vs 15.7%, P = .0003).

CONCLUSIONS

Protocol deviations with potential impact on tumor control or toxicity occurred in 31% of patients in this prospective clinical trial. Protocol deviations were more frequent with IMRT. Prospective radiation therapy quality assurance protocols should be strongly recommended for SBRT trials to minimize potential protocol deviations.

Hodgkin Lymphoma, Version 2.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) provide recommendations for the management of adult patients with HL. The NCCN panel meets at least annually to review comments from reviewers within their institutions, examine relevant data, and reevaluate and update their recommendations. Current management of classic HL involves initial treatment with chemotherapy alone or combined modality therapy followed by restaging with PET/CT to assess treatment response. Overall, the introduction of less toxic and more effective regimens has significantly advanced HL cure rates. This portion of the NCCN Guidelines focuses on the management of classic HL.

Advantage of proton-radiotherapy for pediatric patients and adolescents with Hodgkin's disease

Abstract

Radiotherapy is frequently used in the therapy of lymphoma. Since lymphoma, for example Hodgkin’s disease, frequently affect rather young patients, the induction of secondary cancer or other long-term adverse effects after irradiation are important issues to deal with. Especially for mediastinal manifestations numerous organs and substructures at risk play a role. The heart, its coronary vessels and cardiac valves, the lungs, the thyroid and, for female patients, the breast tissue are only the most important organs at risk. In this study we investigated if proton-radiotherapy might reduce the dose delivered to the organs at risk and thus minimize the therapy-associated toxicity.

Methods

In this work we compared the dose delivered to the heart, its coronary vessels and valves, the lungs, the thyroid gland and the breast tissue by different volumetric photon plans and a proton plan, all calculated for a dose of 28.8 Gy (EURO-NET-PHL-C2). Target Volumes have been defined by F18-FDG PET-positive areas, following a modified involved node approach. Data from ten young female patients with mediastinal lymphoma have been evaluated. Three different modern volumetric IMRT (VMAT) photon plans have been benchmarked against each other and against proton-irradiation concepts. For plan-evaluation conformity- and homogeneity-indices have been calculated as suggested in ICRU 83. The target volume coverage as well as the dose to important organs at risk as the heart with its substructures, the lungs, the breast tissue, the thyroid and the spinal cord were calculated and compared. For statistical evaluation mean doses to organs at risk were evaluated by non- parametric Kruskal-Wallis calculations with pairwise comparisons.

Results

Proton-plans and three different volumetric photon-plans have been calculated. Proton irradiation results in significant lower doses delivered to organ at risk. The median doses and the mean doses could be decreased while PTV coverage is comparable. As well conformity as homogeneity are slightly better for proton plans. For several organs a risk reduction for secondary malignancies has been calculated using literature data as reference.

According to the used data derived from literature especially the secondary breast cancer risk, the secondary lung cancer risk and the risk for ischemic cardiac insults can be reduced significantly by using protons for radiotherapy of mediastinal lymphomas.

Conclusion

Irradiation with protons for mediastinal Hodgkin-lymphoma results in significant lower doses for almost all organs at risk and is suitable to reduce long term side effects for pediatric and adolescent patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13014-019-1360-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Impact of Clinical Trial Quality Assurance on Outcome in Head and Neck Radiotherapy Treatment

Purpose: To investigate the impact of radiation treatment quality assurance (RTQA) on treatment outcomes in a phase III trial for advanced head and neck cancer.

Materials and Methods: A total of 767 patients from NRG/RTOG 0522 were included in this study. The contours of target volume (TV) and organ at risk (OAR), and dose-volume coverage of targets were reviewed and scored (per-protocol, variation-acceptable and deviation-unacceptable) according to the protocol. We performed log-rank tests for RTQA scores with patients' outcomes, including local control (LC), distant control (DC) and overall survival (OS). Cox models with and without RTQA score data were established. To obtain a more reasonable model, per-protocol and variation acceptable were combined into a single acceptable score.

Results: The log-rank test showed that all RTQA scores correlated with LC, which was significantly different between the per-protocol and variation-acceptable patients in target and OAR contouring (p-value = 0.004 and 0.043). For dose-volume score, the per-protocol and variation-acceptable patients were significantly different from unacceptable patients in the LC, with a p-value = 0.020 and 0.006, respectively. The DC of patients with variation-acceptable was significantly different than that of the unacceptable patients (p-value = 0.043). There were no correlations between RTQA scores with other outcomes. By incorporating RTQA scores into outcome modeling, the performance of LC model can be improved from 0.62 to 0.63 (c-index). The RTQA scores had no impact on DC and OS.

Conclusion: RTQA scores are related to patients' local control rates in head and neck cancer radiotherapy.

Adapting automated treatment planning configurations across international centres for prostate radiotherapy

Background and purpose

Automated configurations are increasingly utilised for radiotherapy treatment planning. This study investigates whether automated treatment planning configurations are adaptable across clinics with different treatment planning protocols for prostate radiotherapy.

Material and methods

The study comprised three participating centres, each with pre-existing locally developed prostate AutoPlanning configurations using the Pinnacle³® treatment planning system. Using a three-patient training dataset circulated from each centre, centres modified local prostate configurations to generate protocol compliant treatment plans for the other two centres. Each centre applied modified configurations on validation datasets distributed from each centre (10 patients from 3 centres). Plan quality was assessed through DVH analysis and protocol compliance.

Results

All treatment plans were clinically acceptable, based off relevant treatment protocol. Automated planning configurations from Centre’s A and B recorded 2 and 18 constraint and high priority deviations respectively. Centre C configurations recorded no high priority deviations. Centre A configurations produced treatment plans with superior dose conformity across all patient PTVs (mean = 1.14) compared with Centre’s B and C (mean = 1.24 and 1.22). Dose homogeneity was consistent between all centre’s configurations (mean = 0.083, 0.077, and 0.083 respectively).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that automated treatment planning configurations can be shared and implemented across multiple centres with simple adaptations to local protocols.

A PET Radiomics Model to Predict Refractory Mediastinal Hodgkin Lymphoma

First-order radiomic features, such as metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), are associated with disease progression in early-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). We hypothesized that a model incorporating first- and second-order radiomic features would more accurately predict outcome than MTV or TLG alone. We assessed whether radiomic features extracted from baseline PET scans predicted relapsed or refractory disease status in a cohort of 251 patients with stage I-II HL who were managed at a tertiary cancer center. Models were developed and tested using a machine-learning algorithm. Features extracted from mediastinal sites were highly predictive of primary refractory disease. A model incorporating 5 of the most predictive features had an area under the curve (AUC) of 95.2% and total error rate of 1.8%. By comparison, the AUC was 78% for both MTV and TLG and was 65% for maximum standardize uptake value (SUV_max). Furthermore, among the patients with refractory mediastinal disease, our model distinguished those who were successfully salvaged from those who ultimately died of HL. We conclude that our PET radiomic model may improve upfront stratification of early-stage HL patients with mediastinal disease and thus contribute to risk-adapted, individualized management.

Extranodal presentation of Hodgkin's lymphoma of the sternum: A case report and review of the literature

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is typically a systemic disease with involvement of the cervical, supraclavicular and mediastinal lymph nodes. An extra-nodal presentation of HL is unusual and seldom encountered in the clinic. The most common sites of presentation for extra-nodal extension are the spleen, liver, lungs, bones and marrow. The bones that are frequently involved are the vertebrae, pelvis, ribs and femur. Involvement of the sternum has occasionally been reported. The current study presents an unusual case on the extra-nodal presentation of HL of the sternum arising in a 25-year-old woman, and reviews the relevant literature with particular emphasis on treatment. The extra-nodal infiltration of HL, and the clinical stage and prognosis of the case are also discussed.

Long-Term Course of Patients With Stage IA Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Report From the German Hodgkin Study Group

Purpose

The optimal treatment of stage IA nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is not well defined. Thus, we performed an analysis using the database of the German Hodgkin Study Group.

Patients and Methods

The long-term outcome of 256 patients with stage IA NLPHL was evaluated. Patients had received combined-modality treatment (CMT; n = 72), extended-field radiotherapy (EF-RT; n = 49), involved-field radiotherapy (IF-RT; n = 108), or four weekly standard doses of rituximab (n = 27) within German Hodgkin Study Group clinical trial protocols between 1988 and 2009.

Results

The median age at NLPHL diagnosis was 39 years (range, 16 to 75 years). Most patients were male (76%). The whole patient group had a median follow-up of 91 months (CMT: 95 months; EF-RT: 110 months; IF-RT: 87 months; rituximab: 49 months). At 8 years, progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 88.5% and 98.6% for CMT, 84.3% and 95.7% for EF-RT, and 91.9% and 99.0% for IF-RT, respectively. Patients treated with rituximab had 4-year progression-free and overall survival rates of 81.0% and 100%, respectively. A second malignancy during the course of follow-up was diagnosed in 17 (6.6%) of 256 patients. A total of 12 deaths occurred. However, only one patient died from NLPHL.

Conclusion

Tumor control in this analysis was equivalent with CMT, EF-RT, and IF-RT. Therefore, IF-RT, which is associated with the lowest risk for the development of toxic effects, should be considered as standard of care for patients with stage IA NLPHL. Rituximab alone is associated with an increased risk of relapse in this patient population.

The Evolving Role of Radiotherapy in Early Stage Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Radiation therapy has a key role in the combined modality treatment of early-stage Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL). Nevertheless, late toxicity still remains an issue. A modern approach in HL radiotherapy includes lower doses and smaller fields, together with the implementation of sophisticated and dedicated delivery techniques. Aim of the present review is to discuss the current role of radiotherapy and its potential future developments, with a focus on major clinical trials, technological advances and their repercussion in the clinical management of HL patients.

[News in hodgkin lymphoma therapy]

Hodgkin lymphoma is a well-known clinico-pathological entity with a stable incidence among time accounting for 1200 new cases each year in France. The disease is one of the most curable cancer and occurs often in young patients with a median age at 33 years, the major clinical symptoms are lymph nodes mostly above the diaphragm (mediastinal and supra-clavicular). The diagnosis should be suggested with non-specific symptoms such as fever, night sweats, pruritus, weight-loss, lymph node, cough.. leading to prescribe routine exams like blood test with leucocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and chest Xray. Treatments always include chemotherapy and radiotherapy in localized disease and at a low dose only in involved fields. The usually good prognostic of Hodgkin lymphoma may not let us forget that there are still deaths in patients with refractory or early relapse of the disease. There is still an unmet need is these patients and the search for new drugs is essential.

Does quality of radiation therapy predict outcomes of multicenter cooperative group trials? A literature review

Central review of radiation therapy (RT) delivery within multicenter clinical trials was initiated in the early 1970s in the United States. Early quality assurance publications often focused on metrics related to process, logistics, and timing. Our objective was to review the available evidence supporting correlation of RT quality with clinical outcomes within cooperative group trials. A MEDLINE search was performed to identify multicenter studies that described central subjective assessment of RT protocol compliance (quality). Data abstracted included method of central review, definition of deviations, and clinical outcomes. Seventeen multicenter studies (1980-2012) were identified, plus one Patterns of Care Study. Disease sites were hematologic, head and neck, lung, breast, and pancreas. Between 0 and 97% of treatment plans received an overall grade of acceptable. In 7 trials, failure rates were significantly higher after inadequate versus adequate RT. Five of 9 and 2 of 5 trials reported significantly worse overall and progression-free survival after poor-quality RT, respectively. One reported a significant correlation, and 2 reported nonsignificant trends toward increased toxicity with noncompliant RT. Although more data are required, protocol-compliant RT may decrease failure rates and increase overall survival and likely contributes to the ability of collected data to answer the central trial question.

The effect of specialized cancer treatment centers on treatment efficacy in Hodgkin's lymphoma

BACKGROUND

The presumed benefits of centralization and minimum case numbers often guide health-policy decisions, but these benefits remain inadequately documented, particularly in oncology. In this study, we aim to measure the effect of the type of treatment center and/or the number of patients treated in it on the outcome of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

METHODS

From 1988 to 2002, 8121 patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated in Germany in multicenter randomized and controlled trials (RCTs) of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG). Center-related effects on progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed univariately with Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests, as well as with a multivariate Cox regression model.

RESULTS

The 500 participating centers in Germany included 52 university hospitals, 304 non-university hospitals, and 144 medical practices specializing in hematology and oncology. No significant differences in PFS were found between patients from centers with high or low case numbers (5-year-PFS: 78.7% and 78.6% for centers with fewer than 50 and more than 50 patients, respectively) or from different types of centers [5-year-PFS: university hospital, 77.7%; non-university hospital, 79.4%; practice, 79.8%]. Even after statistical controls for the effect of other known and unknown prognostic factors and validation in further datasets, no center effects were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The type of center and the minimum number of patients treated in a center have no impact on the treatment outcome of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma in Germany. In all GHSG centers, regardless of type, the quality standards for successful treatment are apparently met on all levels of patient care.

Quality assurance of radiotherapy in the ongoing EORTC 22042-26042 trial for atypical and malignant meningioma: results from the dummy runs and prospective individual case Reviews

BACKGROUND

The ongoing EORTC 22042-26042 trial evaluates the efficacy of high-dose radiotherapy (RT) in atypical/malignant meningioma. The results of the Dummy Run (DR) and prospective Individual Case Review (ICR) were analyzed in this Quality Assurance (QA) study.

MATERIAL/METHODS

Institutions were requested to submit a protocol compliant treatment plan for the DR and ICR, respectively. DR-plans (n=12) and ICR-plans (n=50) were uploaded to the Image-Guided Therapy QA Center of Advanced Technology Consortium server (http://atc.wustl.edu/) and were assessed prospectively.

RESULTS

Major deviations were observed in 25% (n=3) of DR-plans while no minor deviations were observed. Major and minor deviations were observed in 22% (n=11) and 10% (n=5) of the ICR-plans, respectively. Eighteen% of ICRs could not be analyzed prospectively, as a result of corrupted or late data submission. CTV to PTV margins were respected in all cases. Deviations were negatively associated with the number of submitted cases per institution (p=0.0013), with a cutoff of 5 patients per institutions. No association (p=0.12) was observed between DR and ICR results, suggesting that DR's results did not predict for an improved QA process in accrued brain tumor patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial number of protocol deviations were observed in this prospective QA study. The number of cases accrued per institution was a significant determinant for protocol deviation. These data suggest that successful DR is not a guarantee for protocol compliance for accrued patients. Prospective ICRs should be performed to prevent protocol deviations.

Role of modern radiation therapy in early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma: A young radiation oncologists' perspective

The role of radiotherapy is well established in combined modality programs for early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, but still debated with regards to late toxicity issues. Modern radiotherapy prescribing attitudes include lower doses and smaller fields, together with the implementation of sophisticated and dedicated delivery techniques. Aim of this review is to briefly discuss the current role of radiotherapy in this field and the potential future developments. Major trials conducted in recent years in early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma are critically reviewed and discussed with a focus on radiotherapy-related issues and with an attention to current treatment options by a "young" radiation oncologists' perspective.

Quality control of involved-field radiotherapy for patients with early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma based on a central prospective review. Comparison of the results between two study generations of the German Hodgkin Study Group

PURPOSE

Based on experience in trials HD10 and HD11 (1998-2003), the radiotherapy reference center of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) continued their central prospective radiation oncological review in trials HD13 and HD14. The purpose of this analysis was to identify the impact of this procedure on radiotherapeutic management and to compare findings with former trials.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2009, 1,710 patients were enrolled in the HD13 trial (early favorable stages) and 2,039 patients in the HD14 trial (early unfavorable stages). All patients received a total of 30 Gy involved-field (IF) radiotherapy within a combined modality approach.

RESULTS

For patients in HD13, there was a correction of disease involvement in 847/1,518 patients (56%), and for patients in HD14 in 1,370/1,905 patients (72%). Most discrepancies were observed in the lower mediastinum (19.2%), infraclavicular (31.7%), upper cervical (12.7%), and supraclavicular (10.8%) lymph nodes. This resulted in a change of disease stage in 241 (7%) patients and a shift into another study protocol in 66 (2%) patients. Due to the incorrect lymph node documentation of the participating study centers, the IF radiotherapy volume had to be enlarged in 1,063/3,423 patients (31%) and reduced in 244/3,423 patients (7.1%). These findings are comparable to the results of the quality control in the trials HD10 and HD11 (2,611 patients reviewed).

CONCLUSION

Central review of the diagnostic imaging and clinical findings of Hodgkin's lymphoma patients shows a considerable number of discrepancies compared with the local evaluation. Thus, meticulous evaluation of all imaging information in close collaboration between the radiation oncologist and diagnostic radiologist is mandatory.

Lymphocyte-Depleted Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Analysis From the German Hodgkin Study Group

Purpose

To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of patients with lymphocyte-depleted classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (LDCHL) compared with other histologic subtypes of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).

Patients and Methods

From a total of 12,155 evaluable patients with biopsy-proven HL treated within the German Hodgkin Study Group trials HD4 to HD15, 10,019 patients underwent central expert pathology review. Eighty-four patients with LDCHL (< 1%) were identified and confirmed. The median follow-up time was 67 months.

Results

Patients with LDCHL, compared with patients with other histologic subtypes, presented more often with advanced disease (74% v 42%, respectively; P < .001) and “B” symptoms (76% v 41%, respectively; P < .001). Other risk factors were also more frequent in patients with LDCHL. Complete remission or unconfirmed complete remission was achieved in 82% of patients with LDCHL compared with 93% of patients with other HL subtypes (P < .001), and more patients with LDCHL had progressive disease. At 5 years, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly lower in patients with LDCHL compared with patients with other HL subtypes (PFS, 71% v 85%, respectively; P < .001; OS, 83% v 92%, respectively; P = .0018). However, when analyzing the subgroup of patients who underwent treatment with intensified or dose-dense bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone, patients with LDCHL (n = 39) had similar outcomes when compared with patients with other subtypes of HL (n = 3,564; P = .61).

Conclusion

LDCHL has a different pattern from other HL subtypes with more clinical risk factors at initial diagnosis and significantly poorer prognosis. Patients with LDCHL should be treated with modern dose-intense treatment strategies.

Clinical features and outcomes of Hodgkin's lymphoma in Korea: Consortium for Improving Survival of Lymphoma (CISL)

Ethnic and regional differences in the epidemiology and pathological aspects of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) between Western and Asian patients may be associated with differences in clinical features and prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and histopathological characteristics, therapeutic outcomes, and prognostic factors of 539 HL patients treated at 16 centers in Korea. We found that the incidence of histological subtypes of HL in Korea was similar to that in Western and other Asian countries. However, the incidence peaked between 16 and 30 years of age, unlike the bimodal age distribution seen in Western countries. In patients with stage I-IIA non-bulky disease, the complete response (CR) rate was similar between combined modality therapy and chemotherapy alone (93% vs. 84%, P = 0.44), and there was no difference in relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients with stage I-II disease plus unfavorable factors and those with advanced-stage disease treated with combination chemotherapy regimens had an overall CR rate of 77%, with no difference between doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) and non-ABVD regimens (77.2% vs. 76.8%, P = 0.95). Among those patients who achieved final CR, there was no significant difference in RFS or OS between those who achieved interim CR and PR. Only the presence of B symptoms was independently predictive of a shorter RFS. Age > 45 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 2-4, and B symptoms were independent risk factors for death. Although the incidence of HL was lower in Korea than in Western countries, the distribution of morphological subtypes, treatment outcomes, and patient prognosis were similar.

Radiotherapy quality assurance review for a multi-center randomized trial of locally advanced esophageal cancer: the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) trial 0303

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiotherapy (RT) quality assurance (QA) for JCOG 0303.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

JCOG 0303 was a multi-center phase II/III trial that compared two types of chemotherapy administered concomitantly with RT for locally advanced esophageal cancer. RT requirements included a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions and CTV with a 2-cm margin cranio-caudally to the primary tumor. The QA assessment was given as per protocol (PP), deviation acceptable (DA), violation unacceptable (VU), and incomplete/not evaluable following predefined criteria for quality parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 142 cases were accrued. After excluding 36 incomplete/not evaluable, 106 (75%) were fully evaluable for RT quality review. Of these 106, there were 4 VU (4%) and overall RT compliance (PP + DA) was 96%. Comparing the incidence of VU based on the numbers enrolled by institution, the highest quarter of enrollment (≥7 cases) had no VU, while all VU (4; 11%) were from institutions enrolling <7 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the RTQA assessment for JCOG 0303 were sufficient to provide reliable results. Additional improvements will be needed for institutions with low accrual rates.

Are patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma in clinical therapy optimization protocols representative of these groups of patients in Germany?

BACKGROUND

Improvement of lymphoma therapy is largely driven by clinical therapy optimization protocols (TOPs). It is unclear, however, whether the patients treated in clinical TOP are representative for all patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

TOP participants were compared with nonstudy patients in a population-based approach. The study included patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (hgNHL). Incident cases (N = 743) were ascertained in a large population-based epidemiologic survey. Each patient's status with respect to exclusion criteria of the pertinent TOP was abstracted from primary data sources. TOP participants were identified on the basis of the trial databases. Baseline characteristics and risk factor prevalence were compared between nonstudy and TOP patients.

RESULTS

Eligible for the respective TOPs were 64.1% of all incident HL patients and 29.6% of all hgNHL patients in the population. Main exclusion criterion was age (HL: 15.2%; hgNHL: 27.4%). Only 71 HL patients (23.0%) and 11 hgNHL patients (3.4%) had actually been enrolled in the respective TOPs.

CONCLUSIONS

TOP participants do not represent all patients with hgNHL and HL in the population. TOP inclusion criteria caused considerable selection among the participants. Further investigation is required to clarify possible limitations for the application of the outcomes observed in TOP patients for all patients with these diseases.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Adolescents Treated With Adult Protocols: A Report From the German Hodgkin Study Group

Purpose

The standard of care for adolescent patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is undefined, particularly the choice between pediatric and adult protocols. Thus, we compared risk factors and outcome of adolescents and young adults treated within study protocols of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG).

Patients and Methods

Three thousand seven hundred eighty-five patients treated within the GHSG studies HD4 to HD9 were analyzed; 557 patients were adolescents age 15 to 20 years, and 3,228 patients were young adults age 21 to 45 years.

Results

Large mediastinal mass and involvement of three or more lymph node areas were more frequent in adolescents (P < .001). The incidence of other risk factors did not differ significantly between age groups. With a median observation time of 81 months for freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) and 85 months for overall survival (OS), log-rank test showed no significant differences between age groups regarding FFTF (P = .305) and a superior OS (P = .008) for adolescents. Six-year estimates for FFTF and OS were 80% and 94%, respectively, for adolescents and 80% and 91%, respectively, for young adults. After adjustment for other predictive factors, Cox regression analysis revealed age as a significant predictor for OS (P = .004), with a higher mortality risk for young adults. Secondary malignancies were more common in young adults (P = .037).

Conclusion

Outcome of adolescent and young adult patients treated within GHSG study protocols is comparable. These data suggest that adult treatment protocols exhibit a safe and effective treatment option for adolescent patients with HL. However, longer follow-up, including assessment of late toxicity, is necessary for final conclusions.

Role of chemotherapy in Hodgkin's lymphoma

The development of curative chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is one of the true success stories in oncology. Most patients diagnosed with HL today can be cured. The major task remaining before us is curing as many patients as possible with their initial therapeutic approach while minimizing the acute toxicities and limiting the lifetime risks of important secondary events such as cardiovascular complications and secondary malignancies. In the 40 years since DeVita et al. developed the mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone chemotherapy regimen, we have learned a great deal about risk stratification to minimize treatment-related toxicity. Positron emission tomography may further assist us in reducing radiation treatment without compromising cures. This review will discuss the development of the chemotherapy regimens used in the management of early and advanced stage HL and the advantages and disadvantages of their use in combination with radiation therapy.

Infradiaphragmatic versus supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin lymphoma: a retrospective review of 1114 patients

Infradiaphragmatic Hodgkin lymphoma (IDH) accounts for 4-13% of cases of stage I-II Hodgkin lymphoma (HD). It has been associated with distinct pre-treatment characteristics and outcomes when compared with supradiaphragmatic HD (SDH). The comparison of IDH vs SDH can only be made in early and intermediate stages (I-II), such a comparison is not possible for advanced stages (III-IV). This study retrospectively compared two groups of 1013 patients with stage I-II SDH and 101 patients with IDH (10%). These two sub-groups of patients were treated in 1988-1993 in 2 prospective randomized clinical trials in Germany for early and intermediate stages of Hodgkin lymphoma. IDH-patients were older (median 39 vs 31 years; p < 0.001), predominantly male (73% vs 52%; p < 0.001) and more often had involvement of 3 lymph node areas (LNA) (80% vs 55%; p < 0.001). Histology in IDH was more likely to be mixed cellularity (46.5% vs 23.6%, p < 0.001) or lymphocyte predominant (20 vs 10%, p = 0.003) and less likely nodular sclerosis (25% vs 63%, p < 0.001). In early-stage unfavorable disease, IDH was associated with a higher treatment failure rate (unadjusted hazard ratio 2, 95% CI, 1.3-3.4; p = 0.003). After controlling for age, sex, stage, histology, B-symptoms and involvement of 3 LNA, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.65-2.4; p = 0.51) so that IDH was no longer associated with a statistically significant treatment failure rate. Poorer outcomes with IDH as compared to SDH are attributable to its association with known adverse prognostic risk factors, but IDH, in itself, is not an independent adverse prognostic factor for treatment failure or survival.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria on Hodgkin's lymphoma: favorable prognosis stage I and II

The treatment for favorable-prognosis stage I and II Hodgkin's lymphoma has evolved over the past several years. Studies have attempted to reduce long-term treatment-related side effects, such as second malignancies and cardiac toxicity, through reduced chemotherapy or reduced radiotherapy. Randomized trials have compared radiation therapy alone with combined-modality therapy (chemotherapy followed by involved-field radiotherapy). Recent and ongoing trials have evaluated the optimal regimen and number of cycles of chemotherapy and the optimal radiotherapy dose and field size as part of combined-modality therapy, as well as the elimination of radiation therapy. Combined-modality therapy represents the current standard of care for most patients with favorable-prognosis early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. Chemotherapy alone could also be an option for selected patients who are at low risk for relapse and high risk for late effects from radiotherapy. This article reviews recent and ongoing studies on treatment for favorable-prognosis early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. Representative clinical cases are presented, with treatment recommendations from an expert panel of radiation oncologists and medical oncologists.

A Contribution to Solve the Problem of the Need for Consolidative Radiotherapy after Intensive Chemotherapy in Advanced Stages of Hodgkin's Lymphoma—Analysis of a Quality Control Program Initiated by the Radiotherapy Reference Center of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)

PURPOSE

The role of radiotherapy (RT) after intensive chemotherapy in patients with advanced stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is still unclear. The German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) randomized HD12 trial was designed to test whether consolidative RT in the region of initial bulky disease and of residual disease is necessary after effective chemotherapy. A quality control program based on a multidisciplinary panel of radiation oncologists, radiologists, and medical oncologists who reviewed all patients' staging and restaging imaging was initiated.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 1661 patients aged 16 to 65 years with HL in Stage IIB (large mediastinal mass and/or E-lesions) or Stage III to IV were randomized from January 1999 to January 2003 according to a factorial design between: 8 esc.BEACOPP + RT (arm A), 8 esc.BEACOPP non-RT (arm B), 4+4BEACOPP + RT (arm C), 4+4BEACOPP non-RT (arm D).

RESULTS

In the fifth interim analysis, 1449 patients were eligible for the arm comparison with regard to RT. After a median observation time of 48 months the FFTF rate was 86% and the OS 92%. The FFTF was 95% in the RT arms A+C and 88% in the non-RT arms B+D: no sequential significant difference. One thousand and eighty four patients were evaluated by the panel. The panel defined initial bulky disease in 800 patients and residual disease in 600 patients. The panel recommended continuation of therapy according to the randomization for 934 of 1084 patients and additive RT independently from the randomization arm for 145 of 1084 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that RT can be reduced substantially after effective chemotherapy. However, because of the irradiation of 10% of patients in the non-RT arms, equivalent effectiveness of a non-RT strategy cannot be proved. A substantial limitation of consolidative RT according to expert panel recommendations appears to be possible without reducing effectiveness.

Two Cycles of Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine Plus Extended-Field Radiotherapy Is Superior to Radiotherapy Alone in Early Favorable Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Final Results of the GHSG HD7 Trial

Purpose

To investigate whether combined-modality treatment (CMT) with two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) followed by extended-field radiotherapy (EF-RT) is superior to EF-RT alone in patients with early favorable Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).

Patients and Methods

Between 1993 and 1998, 650 patients with newly diagnosed, histology-proven HL in clinical stages IA to IIB without risk factors were enrolled onto this multicenter study and randomly assigned to receive 30 Gy EF-RT plus 10 Gy to the involved field (arm A) or two cycles of ABVD followed by the same radiotherapy (arm B).

Results

At a median observation time of 87 months, there was no difference between treatment arms in terms of complete response rate (arm A, 95%; arm B, 94%) and overall survival (at 7 years: arm A, 92%; arm B, 94%; P = .43). However, freedom from treatment failure was significantly different, with 7-year rates of 67% in arm A (95% CI, 61% to 73%) and 88% in arm B (95% CI, 84% to 92%; P ≤ .0001). This was due mainly to significantly more relapses after EF-RT only (arm A, 22%; arm B, 3%). No patient treated with CMT experienced relapse before year 3. Relapses were treated mainly with bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone, or with the combination cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone/ABVD; treatment of relapse was significantly more successful in arm A than in arm B (P = .017). In total, there were 39 second malignancies, with 21 in arm A and 18 in arm B, respectively. The incidence was approximately 0.8% per year during years 2 to 9 and was highest in older patients (P < .0001) and those with “B” symptoms (P = .012).

Conclusion

CMT consisting of two cycles of ABVD plus EF-RT is more effective than EF-RT alone.

G-CSF is not necessary to maintain over 99% dose-intensity with ABVD in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma: low toxicity and excellent outcomes in a 10-year analysis

Dose-intensity of chemotherapy is important in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is commonly used to maintain it. We reviewed all newly diagnosed HL patients who were treated at our institution between 1996 and 2005. Fifty-nine patients received adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy with no dose reductions, treatment delays, and without G-CSF, regardless of absolute neutrophil count (ANC). The median ANC on all ABVD treatment days (n = 658) was 0.925 x 10(9)/l, and was <0.5 x 10(9)/l on 26% of treatment days. Median normalised ABVD dose-intensity was 99.1% (range, 93-100%) and median cycle duration was 28.2 d. Incidence of bleomycin lung toxicity was 1.6%, 0.44% treatments were complicated by febrile neutropenia, and no secondary malignancies have occurred (median follow-up 48 months; range, 11-130 months). Five-year event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 92.9% and 97.4% respectively. Furthermore, the 5-year EFS and OS (87.4% and 94.1% respectively) for advanced stage patients compared favourably with a similar ABVD patient group who received routine prophylactic G-CSF (n = 23) with EFS 80.0% and OS 91.3% (P = 0.46 and 0.67 respectively). Our experience suggests that ABVD may be safely and effectively administered at >99% dose-intensity without G-CSF support, regardless of the ANC.

[A teleradiotherapeutic network for lymphoma patients within the competence network malignant lymphomas]

PURPOSE

The aim of the subproject "Radiotherapy" within the competence network malignant lymphoma, funded by the Federal German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), was to build-up an electronic imaging transfer between five University departments of Radiation Oncology to improve communication between study centers and reference centers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We describe our experiences with these modern teleradiotherapeutic possibilities, its feasibility within mutticentric clinical trials.

RESULTS

Telemedical functions could successfully be integrated into the existing quality asssurance programs of radiotherapy. Since January 2001 more than 700 patients (trials HD10-HD15 of the German Hodgkin Study Group, GHSG) could be assessed after digital transfer via internet, on mobile data carriers or an ISDN-connection in the radiotherapy reference center Cologne. Transfer of digital imaging between participating study centers and the radiotherapy reference center allows immediate or a short-term evaluation of adequacy of treatment fields by expert radiation oncologists before the start of radiotherapy. This improves dialogue and consensus between radiotherapy reference centers and study centers and thus contributes towards high radiotherapy quality for lymphoma patients.

CONCLUSION

The long-term aim is to network all those hospitals, institutions and private facilities taking part in the GHSG trials to achieve an integrated system of cooperation. This improves dialogue and consensus between the radiotherapy reference center and the study centers and thus contributes towards high radiotherapy quality for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A population-based cohort study on early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma treated with radiotherapy alone: with special reference to older patients

BACKGROUND

Combined modality treatment has reduced the risk of relapse among younger early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. Older HL patients may not tolerate chemotherapy and their prognosis is less favorable. We conducted a population-based study to evaluate long-term follow-up outcome in older early-stage HL patients initially treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included 308 consecutive patients (22% were >or=60 years) diagnosed 1972-1999 (median follow-up 20 years; range 1-28). Using Cox regression models we defined risk of relapse and survival in relation to clinical factors.

RESULTS

272/308 (88%) patients obtained complete remission following first-line RT alone. Among these, 42% relapsed within a median of 21 months. The relapse rate was independent of gender and age at diagnosis (median age 32 years, range 14-85); however, lymphocyte-predominant HL was associated with borderline (P=0.049) 56% decreased risk of relapse. Among patients<60 years and >or=60 years, we observed 29 (median latency 10 years, range 2-25) and 11 (median latency 3 years, range 1-10) second tumors, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Older age (>or=60 years) was not associated with an increased risk of relapse following RT alone. Given the risks of iatrogenic morbidity/mortality of chemotherapy in older patients, RT alone could be an alternative first-line therapy in early-stage older HL patients.

German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group Trials: Lessons from the Past and Current Strategies

Over the past decades, Hodgkin's lymphoma has become one of the most curable tumors in adults. This is mainly because of large clinical trials using risk-adapted, highly effective therapy modalities. For a long time, radiation therapy was the standard for treating patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Within the past 20 years, management has undergone a paradigm shift from the use of chemotherapy as an adjunct to radiation therapy in advanced-stage disease to combined therapy modalities with chemotherapy and involved-field irradiation in early stages and time- and dose-intensified effective drug regimens in advanced stages. Modern therapeutic strategies aim at reducing therapy-associated acute and late toxicities, while maintaining the highest tumor control. Founded in 1978, the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group has initiated numerous clinical trials contributing to the high cure rate in all stages of this lymphoma entity. This article gives an overview of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group trials and a review of the current treatment strategies.

Role of hematotoxicity and sex in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma: an analysis from the German Hodgkin Study Group

PURPOSE

Several scores have described sex as a prognostic factor in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). However, little is known how sex-specific factors influence treatment outcome. We systematically investigated sex differences with regard to pretreatment characteristics and therapy-related variables, and examined their influence on the outcome of HL patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This analysis comprises 4,626 HL patients of all prognostic risk groups who were enrolled onto the multicenter studies HD4 to HD9 of the German Hodgkin Study Group. At 5.5 years, 2,050 female and 2,576 male patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Male and female patients had similar prognostic factors. There was more acute chemotherapy-related hematotoxicity in women, especially more severe leucopenia (WHO grade 3/4, 69.9% female and 55.2% male; P < .0001). Importantly, this did not translate into more infections. Female patients had similar response rates but fewer relapses and deaths, leading to a significantly better freedom from treatment failure (FFTF; at 66 months, 81% female [95% CI, 79% to 82%] and 74% male [95% CI, 72% to 76%]). Severe leucopenia during chemotherapy was strongly associated with better FFTF, both for males and females. In addition, when only those patients who developed severe leucopenia within the first two cycles of chemotherapy were included, the factor maintained its protective role.

CONCLUSION

The protective role of severe leucopenia suggests the testing of a more individualized therapy. In future trials, this therapy may be tailored in a response-adapted manner depending on the individual toxicity profile within the first cycles.

Elevated serum levels of CC thymus and activation-related chemokine (TARC) in primary Hodgkin's disease: potential for a prognostic factor

The CC thymus and activation-related chemokine (TARC) is a protein, which is highly expressed by Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease and is found in the majority of Hodgkin's disease patients. Within several trials conducted by the German Hodgkin study group, 62 Hodgkin's disease patients were elected based on availability of serum samples post and prior therapy to assess TARC levels by ELISA. TARC levels from 33 patients with continuous complete response (CCR), 20 patients with relapse, and nine patients with progressive disease (PD) were correlated with freedom from treatment failure and survival. As defined in healthy donors (mean value +/- 2x SD), a TARC level of >500 pg/mL was considered as elevated. The median TARC levels of all patients at baseline and after completed primary treatment were 5,803 pg/mL (range, 116-73,074 pg/mL) and 663 pg/mL (50-24,709 pg/mL), respectively. TARC levels of patients with PD were higher than those of patients with CCR at baseline and after therapy. Baseline TARC correlated significantly with stage (P = 0.019), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.004), leukocyte count (P < 0.001), and lymphocyte count (P = 0.026). A TARC level of >2,000 pg/mL after completed treatment was a significant risk factor for poorer survival (P = 0.02) but not for relapse. In conclusion, monitoring serum TARC levels in Hodgkin's disease patients may add valuable information about therapy success in Hodgkin's disease patients, especially those with PD and should therefore be prospectively evaluated in future trials.

The radiotherapy reference panel--experiences and results of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)

OBJECTIVE

The German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) including more than 500 participating centers established a central radiotherapy (RT) reference center to improve quality of treatment. The purpose of the present article is to summarize the experiences and results of the performed and ongoing quality assurance programs (QAP) of RT.

METHODS

A panel of expert radiation oncologists evaluated retrospectively the adequacy of treatment fields, applied radiation doses, treatment time and technical parameters. For the fourth study generation (HD10-12, 1998-2003), the RT reference center moved from Munich to Cologne. New RT QAP were initiated according to the demands of the new trials and former programs were enhanced.

RESULTS

A strong achievement in the era of extended field RT was to show that major deviations of radiation treatment portals and radiation dose from prospective treatment prescriptions were unfavorable prognostic factors for patients with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). The central prospective radiation oncological review of all diagnostic imaging showed that corrections of disease involvement in 49% of patients with early stages (HD10) and in 67% for patients with intermediate stages (HD11) were necessary. The introduction of electronic image transfer optimized and simplified the workflow of the QAP.

CONCLUSION

Today radiation oncologists in the GHSG perform efficient QAP to improve treatment quality of study patients. For early-stage HL a central prospective review of all diagnostic imaging is performed to control the disease extension and to define the IF treatment volume. Retrospective analysis of RT portals detects faults in the applied irradiation.