Changes in the use of radiation therapy for early classical Hodgkin lymphoma in adolescents and young adults: implications for survival and second malignancies

A comprehensive SEER registry analysis of elderly patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma based on treatment era and race

We conducted a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER-18) registry analysis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients more than 60 years old and compared outcomes of those diagnosed between 2006 and 2010 (cohort 1) to those identified between 2011 and 2015 (cohort 2) based on treatment era and race. Cohort 1 had a median overall survival (OS) of 4 years and cohort 2 had a median OS of 4.75 years [hazard ratio (HR): 0.92 (0.85-1.00); p = 0.052]. Non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) had a similar 5-year OS compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) of 48.6% vs. 50.2% (HR: 0.95 [0.79-1.15]; p > 0.99); on the contrary, Hispanics had worse 5-year OS of 41.8% vs. 48.6% (HR: 1.24 [1.09-1.41]; p < 0.001). NHW was the only race that had improvement in 5-year OS in 2011-2015 compared to 2006-2010 (51% vs. 46.5%, p = 0.002). In the multivariable analysis, older age, male gender, stage III-IV, unmarried status, Hispanic race, lack of chemotherapy, and diagnosis in 2006-2010 were associated with worse OS. Lymphoma was the most common cause of death in 60% of patients. In conclusion, elderly cHL patients diagnosed after 2010 had improved OS by nine months that was most prevalent in NHWs, and disparity in OS existed between NHWs and Hispanics throughout the study period.

Role of Radiation Therapy in Mortality among Adolescents and Young Adults with Lymphoma: Differences According to Cause of Death

Simple Summary

Despite its efficacy, emerging concerns exist regarding radiation therapy (RT)-associated toxicity in adolescent and young adult (AYA) lymphoma patients. However, the most current research studying the association between RT and outcome is based only on groups of lymphoma patients and is not compared with the general population, which could more accurately reveal the impact of RT on outcomes. This population-based analysis showed that after adjusting for potential confounders, RT administration is associated with a low risk of cause-specific mortality, including death due to the original diagnosis, second malignant neoplasms (SMNs), and noncancer causes, among AYA patients with lymphoma. This analysis may play a guiding role in the design of future lymphoma studies and the formulation of healthcare policies regarding the widespread use of RT, especially for AYA survivors.

Abstract

Background: Despite its efficacy, emerging concerns exist regarding radiation therapy (RT)-associated toxicity in adolescent and young adult (AYA) lymphoma patients. Few long-term follow-up studies have examined the association between RT and outcomes. Methods: Lymphoma patients aged 15–39 years were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 1992 to 2016. Mortality was assessed by comparing those with and without RT using the Fine–Gray competing risk model. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were used to assess the relative risk of death compared with the general U.S. population. Results: In total, 29,686 patients were included; 10,708 (36.07%) received RT. Cause-specific mortality was compared between patients with and without RT while considering other competing events, including death due to index cancer, second malignant neoplasms (SMNs), and noncancer causes. Patients with RT had a lower probability of death and crude 5-year cumulative incidence of death. Moreover, there were significantly lower SMRs in patients with RT than in patients without RT. Differences between the two groups were greatest for mortality due to hematological malignancies and infections. Additionally, in the RT cohort, the SMR for index-cancer-related death was highest in the first year after diagnosis and gradually decreased. Hematological malignancies and infections were the most common specific SMN and noncancer causes of death, respectively. Conclusions: RT did not increase mortality from index cancer, SMNs, or noncancer causes in AYA patients with lymphoid malignancies. The current analysis may serve as a reference for healthcare providers monitoring RT application for AYA lymphoid malignancy survivors.

The Burden of Late Effects and Related Risk Factors in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

Simple Summary

It is unclear what the risk of negative health outcomes is after cancer during adolescence and young adulthood. We conducted a review to understand the risk of second cancers, chronic conditions, and death in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors and found factors that increase the risk. In total, 652 studies were identified, of which 106 were included in the review: 23 for second cancers, 34 for chronic conditions, and 54 for deaths. The number of included studies increased over time, from four studies in 2010 to 17 in 2020. The studies found that AYA cancer survivors are at an increased risk of second cancers, chronic conditions, and deaths. In particular, the following factors increased risk: radiation exposure for second cancers; younger attained age and earlier calendar period of diagnosis for chronic conditions; and non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic, low socioeconomic status, and earlier calendar period of diagnosis for deaths.

Abstract

Risk factors associated with late effects in survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer are poorly understood. We conducted a systematic scoping review to identify cohort studies published in English from 2010–2020 that included: (1) cancer survivors who were AYAs (age 15–39 years) at diagnosis and (2) outcomes of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs), chronic conditions, and/or late mortality (>5 years postdiagnosis). There were 652 abstracts identified and, ultimately, 106 unique studies were included, of which 23, 34, and 54 studies related to the risk of SMNs, chronic conditions, and mortality, respectively. Studies investigating late effects among survivors of any primary cancer reported that AYA cancer survivors were at higher risk of SMN, chronic conditions, and all-cause mortality compared to controls. There was an indication that the following factors increased risk: radiation exposure (n = 3) for SMNs; younger attained age (n = 4) and earlier calendar period of diagnosis (n = 3) for chronic conditions; and non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic (n = 5), low socioeconomic status (n = 3), and earlier calendar period of diagnosis (n = 4) for late mortality. More studies including the full AYA age spectrum, treatment data, and results stratified by age, sex, and cancer type are needed to advance knowledge about late effects in AYA cancer survivors.

Reducing Heart Dose with Protons and Cardiac Substructure Sparing for Mediastinal Lymphoma Treatment

Purpose

Electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography with coronary angiography can be used for cardiac substructure sparing (CSS) optimization, which identifies and improves avoidance of cardiac substructures when treating with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). We investigated whether intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) would further reduce dose to cardiac substructures for patients with mediastinal lymphoma.

Patients and Methods

Twenty-one patients with mediastinal lymphoma were enrolled and underwent electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography angiography during or shortly after simulation for radiotherapy planning. Thirteen patients with delineated cardiac substructures underwent comparative planning with both IMPT and IMRT. Plans were normalized for equivalent (95%) target volume coverage for treatment comparison.

Results

Thirteen patients met criteria for this study. The median size of the mediastinal lymphadenopathy was 7.9 cm at the greatest diameter. Compared with IMRT-CSS, IMPT-CSS significantly reduced mean dose to all cardiac substructures, including 3 coronary arteries and 4 cardiac valves. Use of IMPT significantly reduced average whole-heart dose from 9.6 to 4.9 Gy (P < .0001), and average mean lung dose was 9.7 vs 5.8 Gy (P < .0001). Prospectively defined clinically meaningful improvement was observed in at least 1 coronary artery in 9 patients (69%), at least 1 cardiac valve in 10 patients (77%), and whole heart in all 13 patients.

Conclusions

For patients with mediastinal lymphoma, IMPT-CSS treatment planning significantly reduced radiation dose to cardiac substructures. The significant improvements outlined in this study for proton therapy suggest possible clinical improvement in alignment with previous analyses of CSS optimization.

Racial disparities, cancer and response to oxidative stress

At the intersection of genetics, biochemistry and behavioral sciences, there is a largely untapped opportunity to consider how ethnic and racial disparities contribute to individual sensitivity to reactive oxygen species and how these might influence susceptibility to various cancers and/or response to classical cancer treatment regimens that pervasively result in the formation of such chemical species. This chapter begins to explore these connections and builds a platform from which to consider how the disciplines can be strengthened further.

Sociodemographic disparities in the occurrence of medical conditions among adolescent and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma survivors

PURPOSE

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors experience high risks of second cancers and cardiovascular disease, but no studies have considered whether the occurrence of these and other medical conditions differ by sociodemographic factors in adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors.

METHODS

Data for 5,085 patients aged 15-39 when diagnosed with HL during 1996-2012 and surviving ≥ 2 years were obtained from the California Cancer Registry and linked to hospitalization data. We examined the impact of race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), and health insurance on the occurrence of medical conditions (≥ 2 years after diagnosis) and the impact of medical conditions on survival using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Twenty-six percent of AYAs experienced at least one medical condition and 15% had ≥ 2 medical conditions after treatment for HL. In multivariable analyses, Black HL survivors had a higher likelihood (vs. non-Hispanic Whites) of endocrine [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.78] and circulatory system diseases (HR = 1.58, CI 1.17-2.14); Hispanics had a higher likelihood of endocrine diseases [HR = 1.24 (1.04-1.48)]. AYAs with public or no insurance (vs. private/military) had higher likelihood of circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, chronic kidney disease/renal failure, liver disease, and endocrine diseases. AYAs residing in low SES neighborhoods (vs. high) had higher likelihood of respiratory system and endocrine diseases. AYAs with these medical conditions or second cancers had an over twofold increased risk of death.

CONCLUSION

Strategies to improve health care utilization for surveillance and secondary prevention among AYA HL survivors at increased risk of medical conditions may improve outcomes.

Health Disparities and the Global Landscape of Lymphoma Care Today

Lymphoma encompass a wide variety of distinct disease entities, including, but not limited to, subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In the last 3 decades, therapeutic advancements have resulted in substantial improvements in lymphoma outcome. In most high-income regions, HL is a largely curable disease and for patients with two frequent subtypes of NHL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL), survival has dramatically improved with the incorporation of rituximab as a standard treatment approach. Despite these advances, outcomes vary between and across populations. This review will provide updated information about health disparities in lymphoma in the United States and across the globe.

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

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

Impact of Treatment and Insurance on Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival after Adolescent and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies documented racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in survival after Hodgkin lymphoma among adolescents and young adults (AYA), but did not consider the influence of combined-modality treatment and health insurance.

METHODS

Data for 9,353 AYA patients ages 15 to 39 years when diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during 1988 to 2011 were obtained from the California Cancer Registry. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, we examined the impact of sociodemographic characteristics [race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), and health insurance], initial combined-modality treatment, and subsequent cancers on survival.

RESULTS

Over the 24-year study period, we observed improvements in Hodgkin lymphoma-specific survival by diagnostic period and differences in survival by race/ethnicity, neighborhood SES, and health insurance for a subset of more recently diagnosed patients (2001-2011). In multivariable analyses, Hodgkin lymphoma-specific survival was worse for Blacks than Whites with early-stage [HR: 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-2.49] and late-stage disease (HR: 1.68; 95% CI, 1.17-2.41) and for Hispanics than Whites with late-stage disease (HR: 1.58; 95% CI, 1.22-2.04). AYAs diagnosed with early-stage disease experienced worse survival if they also resided in lower SES neighborhoods (HR: 2.06; 95% CI, 1.59-2.68). Furthermore, more recently diagnosed AYAs with public health insurance or who were uninsured experienced worse Hodgkin lymphoma-specific survival (HR: 2.08; 95% CI, 1.52-2.84).

CONCLUSION

Our findings identify several subgroups of Hodgkin lymphoma patients at higher risk for Hodgkin lymphoma mortality.

IMPACT

Identifying and reducing barriers to recommended treatment and surveillance in these AYAs at much higher risk of mortality is essential to ameliorating these survival disparities.