Secondary malignant neoplasms, progression-free survival and overall survival in patients treated for Hodgkin lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma after Treatment of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Report

We report a case of a 24-year-old man who developed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) after treatment for refractory lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma (LR-CHL). This patient was treated with the BV+AVD (brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) protocol for LR-CHL but progressed before completing chemotherapy. The pathological imaging showed the typical findings of LR-CHL at the first onset and first progression. Rescue chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) were performed for refractory LR-CHL, and complete remission was achieved. However, the recurrence was suspected 6 months after AHSCT. The pathological findings of the lymph node biopsy at this time were different from those of the previous two lymph node biopsies, demonstrating findings of AITL. The finding of the immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction results supported the diagnosis. Although it has been reported that the risk for the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is increased, most are B-cell lymphomas, and few cases of AITL have been reported. AITL is a type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma that generally occurs in middle-aged and elderly people and that rarely occurs in young people. Here, we were able to make an accurate diagnosis by performing re-examination even when recurrence of LR-CHL was suspected. As there are no detailed case reports of AITL developing into secondary non-Hodgkin lymphoma, here we report on an identified case.

Lymphoproliferative disorder risk after methotrexate treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Methotrexate (MTX)-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD) is a troublesome problem in patients receiving MTX for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, its incidence, prognosis, and risk factors remain unclear. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the actual incidence, prognostic impact, and risk factors of MTX-LPD. Of the 986 patients with RA treated with MTX, 90 patients experienced 95 new malignancies (NMs), with LPD as the most frequent in 26 patients. The cumulative LPD incidences were 1.3% and 4.7% at 5 and 10 years after MTX initiation, respectively. Among the 24 patients who discontinued MTX after developing LPD, 15 showed sustained regression, without difference in overall survival between patients with LPD and without NM. Inflammatory markers and absolute lymphocyte counts were not useful for early LPD development detection, but most of the patients with LPD had persistently elevated erythrocyte sedimentation ratios. Regarding concomitant drugs, tacrolimus increased the risk only if patients were not receiving biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). bDMARDs did not increase the risk for any of the drugs or the number of classes used. The number of LPD cases was lower in patients with IL-6A even after a long period after MTX, although with no statistically significant difference. Thus, approximately 1 in 20 patients with RA developed MTX-LPD over the 10 years of MTX treatment, but it did not affect the survival of patients with RA. Tacrolimus increased the risk of developing LPD for certain patients and should be used with caution.

Effective T-cell replete haploidentical stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients with high-risk hematologic disorders

OBJECTIVES

Patients with high-risk hematologic diseases require intensive modalities, including high-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Haploidentical T-cell-replete transplantation is a logical choice because of the limited availability of matched sibling donors and the prolonged time needed to identify matched unrelated donors in Thailand.

METHODS

The clinical outcomes data of 43 patients undergoing allo-HSCT were reviewed. All patients had high-risk hematologic malignancies, were younger than 20 years, and were in complete cytological remission at the time of allo-HSCT. We used two different conditioning regimens: total body irradiation (TBI) combined with cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and melphalan (n = 23) and thiotepa combined with fludarabine and busulfan (n = 20). All patients received a graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and a calcineurin inhibitor or sirolimus.

RESULTS

There was no difference in engraftment between patients receiving either of the regimens. After a median follow-up of 35.8 (range, 0.6-106.2) months, the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates were 62.4% and 54.7%, respectively. OS and EFS were comparable between the respective regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that thiotepa-based conditioning has similar efficacy and tolerability as TBI-based conditioning for haploidentical HSCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide.

Identifying causal relationships of cancer treatment and long-term health effects among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer in Southern Sweden

Background

Survivors of childhood cancer can develop adverse health events later in life. Infrequent occurrences and scarcity of structured information result in analytical and statistical challenges. Alternative statistical approaches are required to investigate the basis of late effects in smaller data sets.

Methods

Here we describe sex-specific health care use, mortality and causal associations between primary diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in a small cohort (n = 2315) of 5-year survivors of childhood cancer (n = 2129) in southern Sweden and a control group (n = 11,882; age-, sex- and region-matched from the general population). We developed a constraint-based method for causal inference based on Bayesian estimation of distributions, and used it to investigate health care use and causal associations between diagnoses, treatments and outcomes. Mortality was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Our results confirm a significantly higher health care usage and premature mortality among childhood cancer survivors as compared to controls. The developed method for causal inference identifies 98 significant associations (p < 0.0001) where most are well known (n = 73; 74.5%). Hitherto undescribed associations are identified (n = 5; 5.1%). These were between use of alkylating agents and eye conditions, topoisomerase inhibitors and viral infections; pituitary surgery and intestinal infections; and cervical cancer and endometritis. We discuss study-related biases (n = 20; 20.4%) and limitations.

Conclusions

The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the consequences of cancer treatment. The study shows relevance for small data sets and causal inference, and presents the method as a complement to traditional statistical approaches.

Survivors of childhood cancer can develop late effects in adulthood. Knowledge about possible late effects can improve childhood cancer treatments and assist in follow-up. We developed a method to identify causative links between treatments and health outcomes. We applied it to a Swedish patient cohort and identified 98 causative links between treatments and outcomes, many of which are already known. Some, however, have not been previously described, including links between certain treatments and eye conditions or viral infections. We also confirm that childhood cancer survivors use more health care and have higher mortality compared to the general population. This study helps to create a better understanding of the late effects of cancer treatment in children and may help to guide strategies to monitor and treat children to avoid these effects.

Holst et al. study the relationship between cancer treatments and long-term health effects using registry data on childhood cancer survivors in Sweden. The authors utilize a causal inference approach to establish relationships between certain therapies and viral infections, eye conditions, and reproductive conditions, amongst others.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy versus intensity-modulated proton therapy in the irradiation of infra diaphragmatic Hodgkin Lymphoma in female patients

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of infra diaphragmatic intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) compared to volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for female Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) patients and to estimate the risk of secondary cancer and ovarian failure.

METHODS

A comparative treatment planning study was performed on 14 patients, and the results were compared according to conventional dose-volume metrics. In addition, estimates of the excess absolute risk (EAR) of secondary cancer induction were determined for the bowel, the bladder and the rectum. For the ovaries, the risk of ovarian failure was estimated.

RESULTS

The dosimetric findings demonstrate the equivalence between VMAT and IMPT in terms of target coverage. A statistically significant reduction of the mean and near-to-maximum doses was proven for the organs at risk. The EAR ratio estimated for IMPT to VMAT was 0.51 ± 0.32, 0.32 ± 0.35 and 0.05 ± 0.11 for the bowel, bladder and rectum, respectively. Concerning the risk of ovarian failure for the chronologic age ranging from 18 to 46 years, the expected net loss in fertility years ranged from 4.8 to 3.0 years for protons and 12.0 to 5.7 years for photons.

CONCLUSION

This in-silico study confirmed the beneficial role of IMPT from a dosimetric point of view. Mathematical models suggested that the use of protons might be further advantageous due to the expected reduction of the risk of secondary cancer induction and its milder impact on the reduction of fertility.

Exercise Improves Cancer-free Survival and Health Span in a Model of Radiation-induced Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Radiation therapy increases the risk of secondary malignancy and morbidity in cancer survivors. The role of obesity and exercise training in modulating this risk is not well understood. As such, we used a preclinical model of radiation-induced malignancy to investigate whether diet-induced obesity and/or endurance exercise training altered lifelong survival, cancer incidence, and morbidity.

METHODS

Male CBA mice were randomly divided into control diet/sedentary group (CTRL/SED), high-fat diet (45% fat)/sedentary group (HFD/SED), control diet/exercise group (2-3 d·wk-1; CTRL/EX), or high-fat diet/exercise group (HFD/EX) groups then exposed to whole-body radiation (3 Gy). End point monitoring and pathology determined mortality and cancer incidence, respectively. Health span index, a measure of morbidity, was determined by a composite measure of 10 anthropometric, metabolic, performance, and behavioral measures.

RESULTS

Overall survival was higher in HFD/SED compared with CTRL/SED (P < 0.05). The risk of cancer-related mortality by 18 months postradiation was 1.99 and 1.63 in HFD/SED compared with CTRL/EX (RR = 1.99, 95% confidence interval = 1.20-3.31, P = 0.0081) and CTRL/SED (RR = 1.63, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-2.49, P = 0.0250), respectively. The number of mice at end point with cancer was higher in HFD/SED compared with CTRL/EX and CTRL/SED (P < 0.05). Health span index was highest in CTRL/EX (score = +2.5), followed by HFD/EX (score = +1), and HFD/SED (score = -1) relative to CTRL/SED.

CONCLUSION

This work provides the basis for future preclinical studies investigating the dose-response relationship between exercise training and late effects of radiation therapy as well as the mechanisms responsible for these effects.

The Case of Billy Best: 25 Years Later

Billy Best was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1994 at age 16 and became well-known when he ran away from home to avoid receiving further chemotherapy. His story became national news when, with the support of his adopted parents, he returned home and opted to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) instead of standard chemotherapy and radiation for his cancer treatment. Now 25 years since Billy Best entered the public eye, his story is one that is frequently referenced in pediatrics, bioethics, and other related fields. Here, the authors examine the evolution of various features of this case, including treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, the interplay between medicine and the media, the role of CAM in pediatric care, navigating entrenched disagreements and how best to integrate adolescents into health care decision-making, and the role of narrative in medical practice. The authors explore the unique role of each of these facets of Billy Best's case, describing how each has or has not changed in the quarter century since that time amid the changing landscape of pediatric health care. Ultimately, although many advances have occurred since Billy Best's time, significant work remains. Additional effort will be required in the future to optimize communication, improve treatment toxicities from Hodgkin lymphoma without decreasing survival, integrate the voice and perspective of adolescents into their treatment decisions, and navigate the roles of CAM and the media in pediatric health care.

Survival among patients with composite and sequential lymphoma between primary mediastinal lymphoma/diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Data on composite and sequential lymphoma between primary mediastinal lymphoma/diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) are rare.

METHODS

We identified 25 cases with composite lymphoma (CL), 116 cases developing LBCL as a second primary cancer after cHL (cHL-LBCL), and 74 cases developing cHL as a second primary cancer after LBCL (LBCL-cHL) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database. Comparisons of overall survival (OS) and lymphoma cause-specific survival (CSS) between patients with cHL-LBCL or cHL-LBCL and their de novo counterparts were performed.

RESULTS

The 5-year OS of patients with CL was 74.8 %. No significant difference in unadjusted OS and lymphoma CSS were observed between patients with de novo LBCL (LBCL-1 group) and patients with cHL-LBCL. However, the age- and stage-adjusted cHL-LBCL group had inferior OS and lymphoma CSS compared with that in the LBCL-1 group. The unadjusted and adjusted OS and lymphoma CSS in the LBCL-cHL group were significantly worse than patients with de novo cHL.

CONCLUSIONS

CL between LBCL and cHL may have good outcomes. cHL survivors had poorer outcomes after a LBCL diagnosis versus patients with LBCL-1. Significantly poor outcomes were observed in patients with LBCL-cHL compared with patients with de novo cHL.

Extracellular vesicle miRNA predict FDG-PET status in patients with classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Minimally-invasive tools to assess tumour presence and burden may improve clinical management. FDG-PET (metabolic) imaging is the current gold standard for interim response assessment in patients with classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL), but this technique cannot be repeated frequently. Here we show that microRNAs (miRNA) associated with tumour-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the circulation of cHL patients may improve response assessment. Small RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR reveal that the relative abundance of cHL-expressed miRNAs, miR-127-3p, miR-155-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-24-3p and let-7a-5p is up to hundred-fold increased in plasma EVs of cHL patients pre-treatment when compared to complete metabolic responders (CMR). Notably, in partial responders (PR) or treatment-refractory cases (n = 10) the EV-miRNA levels remain elevated. In comparison, tumour specific copy number variations (CNV) were detected in cell-free DNA of 8 out of 10 newly diagnosed cHL patients but not in patients with PR. Combining EV-miR-127-3p and/or EV-let-7a-5p levels, with serum TARC (a validated protein cHL biomarker), increases the accuracy for predicting PET-status (n = 129) to an area under the curve of 0.93 (CI: 0.87-0.99), 93.5% sensitivity, 83.8/85.0% specificity and a negative predictive value of 96%. Thus the level of tumour-associated miRNAs in plasma EVs is predictive of metabolic tumour activity in cHL patients. Our findings suggest that plasma EV-miRNA are useful for detection of small residual lesions and may be applied as serial response prediction tool.

PET-guided eBEACOPP treatment of advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HD18): follow-up analysis of an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

The German Hodgkin Study Group's HD18 trial established the safety and efficacy of PET-guided eBEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone in escalated doses) for the treatment of advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. However, because of a protocol amendment during the enrolment period (June 1, 2011) that changed standard treatment from eight to six cycles, the results of the HD18 trial have been partially immature. We report a prespecified 5-year follow-up analysis of the completed HD18 trial.

METHODS

HD18 was an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial done in 301 hospitals and private practices in five European countries. Patients aged 18-60 years with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 were recruited. After receiving an initial two cycles of eBEACOPP (1250 mg/m² intravenous cyclophosphamide [day 1], 35 mg/m² intravenous doxorubicin [day 1], 200 mg/m² intravenous etoposide [day 1-3], 100 mg/m² oral procarbazine [day 1-7], 40 mg/m² oral prednisone [day 1-14], 1·4 mg/m² intravenous vincristine [day 8], and 10 mg/m² intravenous bleomycin [day 8]), patients underwent a contrast-enhanced CT and PET scan (PET-2). Patients with positive PET-2 were randomly assigned to receive standard therapy (an additional six cycles of eBEACOPP; ie, eight cycles in total) or experimental therapy (an additional six cycles of eBEACOPP plus 375 mg/m² intravenous rituximab; ie, eight cycles in total) until June 1, 2011. After June 1, 2011, all patients with positive PET-2 were assigned to the updated standard therapy with an additional four cycles of eBEACOPP (ie, six cycles in total). Patients with negative PET-2 were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive standard therapy (an additional six cycles of eBEACOPP [ie, eight cycles in total] until June 1, 2011; an additional four cycles of eBEACOPP [ie, six cycles in total] after June 1, 2011) or experimental therapy (an additional two cycles of eBEACOPP; ie, four cycles in total). Randomisation was done centrally with the minimisation method, including a random component, stratified by centre, age, stage, international prognostic score, and sex. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. HD18 aimed to improve 5-year progression-free survival by 15% in the PET-2-positive intention-to-treat cohort and to exclude inferiority of 6% or more in 5-year progression-free survival in the PET-2-negative per-protocol population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00515554, and is completed.

FINDINGS

Between May 14, 2008, and July 18, 2014, 2101 patients were enrolled and 1945 were assigned to a treatment group according to their PET-2 result. In the PET-2-positive cohort, with a median follow-up of 73 months (IQR 59 to 94), 5-year progression-free survival was 89·9% (95% CI 85·7 to 94·1) in 217 patients assigned to eight cycles of eBEACOPP before the protocol amendment and 87·7% (83·1 to 92·4) in 217 patients assigned to eight cycles of rituximab plus eBEACOPP (p=0·40). Among 506 patients who received six cycles of eBEACOPP after the protocol amendment, 5-year progression-free survival was 90·1% (95% CI 87·2 to 92·9), with a median follow-up of 58 months (IQR 39 to 66). In the PET-2-negative cohort, with a median follow-up of 66 months (IQR 54 to 85) in the combined pre-amendment and post-amendment groups, 5-year progression-free survival was 91·2% (95% CI 88·4 to 93·9) in 446 patients who received eight or six cycles of eBEACOPP and 93·0% (90·6 to 95·4) in 474 patients who received four cycles of eBEACOPP (difference 1·9% [95% CI -1·8 to 5·5]). In the subgroup of PET-2-negative patients randomly assigned after protocol amendment, 5-year progression-free survival was 90·9% (95% CI 86·8 to 95·1) in 202 patients assigned to receive six cycles of eBEACOPP and 91·0% (86·6 to 95·5) in 200 patients assigned to receive four cycles of eBEACOPP (difference 0·1% [-5·9 to 6·2]).

INTERPRETATION

Long-term follow-up confirms the efficacy and safety of PET-2-guided eBEACOPP in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. The reduction from eight to four cycles of eBEACOPP represents a benchmark in the treatment of early-responding patients, who can now be potentially cured with a short and safe treatment approach.

FUNDING

Deutsche Krebshilfe, Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI (Switzerland), and Roche Pharma.

TRANSLATION

For the German translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Brentuximab vedotin with chemotherapy for stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (ECHELON-1): 5-year update of an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma with the introduction of PET-adapted regimens, practical challenges prevent more widespread use of these approaches. The ECHELON-1 study assessed the safety and efficacy of front-line A+AVD (brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) versus ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) in patients with stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma. The primary analysis showed improved modified progression-free survival with A+AVD. We present an updated analysis of ECHELON-1 at 5 years, an important landmark for this patient population.

METHODS

ECHELON-1 was an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial done at 218 clinical sites, including hospitals, cancer centres, and community clinics, in 21 countries. Previously untreated patients (≥18 years with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≤2) with stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive A+AVD (brentuximab vedotin, 1·2 mg/kg of bodyweight, doxorubicin 25 mg/m² of body surface area, vinblastine 6 mg/m², and dacarbazine 375 mg/m²) or ABVD (doxorubicin 25 mg/m², bleomycin 10 U/m², vinblastine 6 mg/m², and dacarbazine 375 mg/m²) intravenously on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle for up to six cycles. Stratification factors included region (Americas vs Europe vs Asia) and International Prognostic Score risk group (low, intermediate, or high risk). The primary endpoint was modified progression-free survival; this 5-year update includes analysis of progression-free survival as per investigator assessment in the intention-to-treat population, which was an exploratory endpoint, although the 5-year analysis was not prespecified in the protocol. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01712490) and EudraCT (2011-005450-60), and is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Nov 19, 2012, and Jan 13, 2016, 1334 patients were randomly assigned to receive A+AVD (n=664) or ABVD (n=670). At a median follow-up of 60·9 months (IQR 52·2-67·3), 5-year progression-free survival was 82·2% (95% CI 79·0-85·0) with A+AVD and 75·3% (71·7-78·5) with ABVD (hazard ratio [HR] 0·68 [95% CI 0·53-0·87]; p=0·0017). Among PET-2-negative patients, 5-year progression-free survival was higher with A+AVD than with ABVD (84·9% [95% CI 81·7-87·6] vs 78·9% [75·2-82·1]; HR 0·66 [95% CI 0·50-0·88]; p=0·0035). 5-year progression-free survival for PET-2-positive patients was 60·6% (95% CI 45·0-73·1) with A+AVD versus 45·9% (32·7-58·2) with ABVD (HR 0·70 [95% CI 0·39-1·26]; p=0·23). Peripheral neuropathy continued to improve or resolve over time with both A+AVD (375 [85%] of 443 patients) and ABVD (245 [86%] of 286 patients); more patients had ongoing peripheral neuropathy in the A+AVD group (127 [19%] of 662) than in the ABVD group (59 [9%] of 659). Fewer secondary malignancies were reported with A+AVD (19 [3%] of 662) than with ABVD (29 [4%] of 659). More livebirths were reported in the A+AVD group (n=75) than in the ABVD group (n=50).

INTERPRETATION

With 5 years of follow-up, A+AVD showed robust and durable improvement in progression-free survival versus ABVD, regardless of PET-2 status, and a consistent safety profile. On the basis of these findings, A+AVD should be preferred over ABVD for patients with previously untreated stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

FUNDING

Millennium Pharmaceuticals (a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company), and Seagen.

What's new in the pathogenesis and treatment of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) include diseases onsetting in patients treated with chemo- and/or radiotherapy for a primary cancer, or an autoimmune disorder. Genomic variants, in particular in familial cancer genes, may play a predisposing role. Recent advances in deep sequencing techniques have shed light on the pathogenesis of t-MN, identifying clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) as a frequent first step in the multi-hit model of t-MN. CHIP is often detectable prior to any cytotoxic treatment, probably setting the fertile genomic background for secondary leukemogenesis. The evolution pattern towards t-MN is then a complex process, shaped by the type of cancer therapy, the aging process, and the individual exposures, that favor additional hits, such as the acquisition of TP53 mutations and unfavorable karyotype abnormalities. The pathogenesis of t-MN differs from MN associated with environmental exposure. Indeed, the genetic aberration patterns of MN developing in atomic bomb survivors show few mutations in classical DNA methylation genes, and a high prevalence of 11q and ATM alterations, together with TP53 mutations. Survival in t-MN is poor. In addition to the biology of t-MN, the patient's previous disease history and the remission status at t-MN diagnosis are significant factors contributing to unfavorable outcome. New drugs active in secondary leukemias include CPX-351, or venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents, monoclonal antibodies as magrolimab, or targeted drugs against pathogenic mutations. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation remains the best currently available therapeutic option with curative intent for fit patients with unfavorable genetic profiles.

On the Importance of Individualized, Non-Coplanar Beam Configurations in Mediastinal Lymphoma Radiotherapy, Optimized With Automated Planning

Background and Purpose

Literature is non-conclusive regarding selection of beam configurations in radiotherapy for mediastinal lymphoma (ML) radiotherapy, and published studies are based on manual planning with its inherent limitations. In this study, coplanar and non-coplanar beam configurations were systematically compared, using a large number of automatically generated plans.

Material and Methods

An autoplanning workflow, including beam configuration optimization, was configured for young female ML patients. For each of 25 patients, 24 plans with different beam configurations were generated with autoplanning: 11 coplanar CP_x plans and 11 non-coplanar NCP_x plans with x = 5 to 15 IMRT beams with computer-optimized, patient-specific configurations, and the coplanar VMAT and non-coplanar Butterfly VMAT (B-VMAT) beam angle class solutions (600 plans in total).

Results

Autoplans compared favorably with manually generated, clinically delivered plans, ensuring that beam configuration comparisons were performed with high quality plans. There was no beam configuration approach that was best for all patients and all plan parameters. Overall there was a clear tendency towards higher plan quality with non-coplanar configurations (NCP_x≥12 and B-VMAT). NCP_x≥12 produced highly conformal plans with on average reduced high doses in lungs and patient and also a reduced heart Dmean, while B-VMAT resulted in reduced low-dose spread in lungs and left breast.

Conclusions

Non-coplanar beam configurations were favorable for young female mediastinal lymphoma patients, with patient-specific and plan-parameter-dependent dosimetric advantages of NCP_x≥12 and B-VMAT. Individualization of beam configuration approach, considering also the faster delivery of B-VMAT vs. NCP_x≥12, can importantly improve the treatments.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment of a first cancer is associated with a decreased incidence of second primary cancer

Background

Second primary cancers (SPCs) are diagnosed in over 5% of patients after a first primary cancer (FPC). We explore here the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) given for an FPC on the risk of SPC in different age groups, cancer types and treatments.

Patients and methods

The files of the 46 829 patients diagnosed with an FPC in the Centre Léon Bérard from 2013 to 2018 were analyzed. Structured data were extracted and electronic patient records were screened using a natural language processing tool, with validation using manual screening of 2818 files of patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the incidence of SPC according to patient characteristics and treatment were conducted.

Results

Among the 46 829 patients, 1830 (3.9%) had a diagnosis of SPC with a median interval of 11.1 months (range 0-78 months); 18 128 (38.7%) received cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC) and 1163 (2.5%) received ICIs for the treatment of the FPC in this period. SPCs were observed in 7/1163 (0.6%) patients who had received ICIs for their FPC versus 437/16 997 (2.6%) patients receiving CC and no ICIs for the FPC versus 1386/28 669 (4.8%) for patients receiving neither CC nor ICIs for the FPC. This reduction was observed at all ages and for all histotypes analyzed. Treatment with ICIs and/or CC for the FPC are associated with a reduced risk of SPC in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy with ICIs alone and in combination with CC was found to be associated with a reduced incidence of SPC for all ages and cancer types.

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From 2013 to 2018, 3.9% of the 46 829 patients diagnosed with a first cancer presented with an SPC.

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Treatment of the first cancer with ICIs was associated with a major reduction of SPC.

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CC given for an FPC was also associated with a lower magnitude of reduction of SPC.

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There were no SPC in cancer patients treated with ICIs in the localized phase of their first cancer.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma after treatment for classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the German Hodgkin Study Group

Data on non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) after classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) are scarce. We therefore performed a retrospective analysis comprising 11·841 cHL patients who had first-line treatment within the randomized German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) HD7-HD15 studies. After a median follow-up of 106 months, 175 patients (1·5%) had developed NHL. The median time to NHL was 44 months, the median age at NHL diagnosis was 54 years. The five-year event-free survival and overall survival estimates from the diagnosis of NHL were 36·9% and 44·2%, respectively. Thus, NHL after cHL is a rare event primarily affecting older individuals and often resulting in the patient´s death.

How I treat nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare lymphoma entity with distinct pathologic and clinical characteristics. Unlike the malignant cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma, the disease-defining lymphocyte-predominant cells in NLPHL are consistently positive for CD20, but do not express CD30. The clinical course of NLPHL is indolent in the majority of cases. Most patients present with early-stage disease at the initial diagnosis. First-line treatment of stage IA NLPHL usually consists of limited-field radiotherapy alone. Patients with early-stage NLPHL other than stage IA and intermediate-stage disease mostly receive combined-modality treatment, whereas individuals with advanced NLPHL are treated with chemotherapy alone. In relapsed NLPHL, conventional chemotherapy, anti-CD20 antibodies, and radiotherapy represent active treatment modalities. Only patients with poor-risk characteristics such as early disease recurrence are candidates for aggressive salvage treatment with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. The overall and relative survival of patients with NLPHL is excellent as indicated by a low excess mortality compared with the general population. This article discusses treatment options for patients with NLPHL and factors that influence the choice of therapy on the basis of the available data and 2 clinical cases.

Brentuximab vedotin with chemotherapy for stage III/IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma: 3-year update of the ECHELON-1 study

The phase 3 ECHELON-1 study demonstrated that brentuximab vedotin (A) with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD; A+AVD) exhibited superior modified progression-free survival (PFS) vs doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) for frontline treatment of patients with stage III/IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Maturing positron emission tomography (PET)-adapted trial data highlight potential limitations of PET-adapted approaches, including toxicities with dose intensification and higher-than-expected relapse rates in PET scan after cycle 2 (PET2)-negative (PET2-) patients. We present an update of the ECHELON-1 study, including an exploratory analysis of 3-year PFS per investigator. A total of 1334 patients with stage III or IV cHL were randomized 1:1 to receive 6 cycles of A+AVD (n = 664) or ABVD (n = 670). Interim PET2 was required. At median follow-up of 37 months, 3-year PFS rates were 83.1% with A+AVD and 76.0% with ABVD; 3-year PFS rates in PET2- patients aged <60 years were 87.2% vs 81.0%, respectively. A beneficial trend in PET2+ patients aged <60 years on A+AVD was also observed, with a 3-year PFS rate of 69.2% vs 54.7% with ABVD. The benefit of A+AVD in the intent-to-treat population appeared independent of disease stage and prognostic risk factors. Upon continued follow-up, 78% of patients with peripheral neuropathy on A+AVD had either complete resolution or improvement compared with 83% on ABVD. These data highlight that A+AVD provides a durable efficacy benefit compared with ABVD for frontline stage III/IV cHL, consistent across key subgroups regardless of patient status at PET2, without need for treatment intensification or bleomycin exposure. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01712490 (EudraCT no. 2011-005450-60).

Efficacy and safety of front-line treatments for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

To assess evidence on the safety and efficacy of ABVD (doxorubicin [Adriamycin®], bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine), BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone), and A+AVD (brentuximab vedotin, with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) for advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).

METHODS

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted on 29 July 2016 (updated 26 July 2018) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs assessing the treatment of newly-diagnosed advanced-stage HL with ABVD and BEACOPP (and their variants), and A+AVD.

RESULTS

The SLR identified 62 RCTs and 42 non-RCTs. Five-year overall survival rates for ABVD and BEACOPP were 60-97% and 84-99%, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 58-81% and 83-96%, respectively. Both regimens were associated with tolerability issues and side effects. Discontinuation or dose reduction of bleomycin resulted in fewer adverse events, without significantly affecting efficacy. A head-to-head trial demonstrated improved efficacy for A+AVD vs ABVD, with an acceptable tolerability profile. No data from head-to-head trials comparing A+AVD with BEACOPP were available, and an indirect treatment comparison was not feasible.

CONCLUSION

New therapies, such as A+AVD, maintain the efficacy observed with current treatments, and may provide a more tolerable treatment option for patients with advanced-stage HL.

Circulating miRNAs as Biomarkers in Aggressive B Cell Lymphomas

B cell lymphomas are heterogeneous malignancies of hematological origin with vastly different biology and clinical outcomes. Histopathology of tissue biopsies and image-based assessment guide clinical decisions. Given that tissue biopsies cannot be frequently repeated and will not inform on systemic responses to the treatment, more accessible biomarkers, such as circulating miRNAs, are considered. Aberrant miRNA expression in lymphoma tissues and ongoing immune reactions may lead to miRNA alterations in circulation. miRNAs bound to extracellular vesicles (EVs) are of interest because of their role in intercellular communication and organ crosstalk. Herein, we highlight the role of miRNAs and EVs in B cell lymphomagenesis and explain how circulating miRNAs may be turned into robust liquid biopsy tests for aggressive B cell lymphoma.

PET-adapted approaches to primary therapy for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma

Recent results of randomized phase III studies of FDG-PET-adapted therapy for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have clearly demonstrated benefit to alteration of treatment according to interim response, in particular regarding reducing toxicity while maintaining efficacy. However, these studies have differences in design including initial chemotherapy regimen, PET response criteria, patient populations enrolled, and inclusion of radiation, and report different results regarding efficacy and toxicities, which makes cross-trial comparisons difficult. Practitioners are presented with deciding which of these approaches will provide the optimum outcome, balancing toxicity and efficacy, and for which patient with advanced-stage HL. This review summarizes the observations reported from these trials and provides context to help guide physicians and patients in treatment decisions for advanced HL.

Teduglutide for the treatment of adults with intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome: pooled safety data from four clinical trials

BACKGROUND

In multiple clinical studies, teduglutide reduced parenteral support (PS) with a consistent safety profile in adults with short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure (SBS-IF). The objective of this study was to assess adverse events (AEs) from a pooled data set.

METHODS

Safety data from four prospective clinical trials of teduglutide in patients with SBS-IF were assimilated. AEs were evaluated in patient groups based on treatment received in each study and in populations stratified to create distinct subgroups based on aetiology, bowel anatomy and baseline PS volume requirements.

RESULTS

Safety data are reported for up to 2.5 years, totalling 222 person-years exposure to teduglutide. In most patients, AEs were reported as mild or moderate in severity in all patient groups and occurred at comparable rates between patients who received teduglutide or placebo. Several common gastrointestinal AEs, including abdominal pain, nausea and abdominal distension, were reported more frequently earlier in the course of treatment, with their frequency declining over time. Fewer gastrointestinal AEs were reported in patients with vascular causes of SBS-IF and patients with most of their colon-in-continuity than in other patient subgroups. Across the patient stratification subgroups, the predominant treatment-emergent AEs for which patients receiving teduglutide had a significantly increased relative risk were abdominal distension and gastrointestinal stoma complication compared with patients receiving placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Teduglutide had a safety profile consistent with prior adult data and no new safety concerns were identified. The most frequently reported AEs were gastrointestinal in origin, consistent with the underlying disease condition and intestinotrophic actions of teduglutide.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY INFORMATION

NCT00081458/EudraCT, 2004-000438-35; NCT00798967/EudraCT, 2008-006193-15; NCT00172185/EudraCT, 2004-000439-27; NCT00930644/EudraCT, 2009-011679-65.

Clinical characteristics of interim-PET negative patients with a positive end PET from the prospective HD08-01 FIL study

FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) performed early during therapy in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma patients has been confirmed as being important for progression-free survival. A group of patients with a negative interim-PET (i-PET) showed a positive end induction PET (e-PET). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with a positive e-PET as a secondary end point of the HD0801 study. A total of 519 patients with advanced-stage de novo Hodgkin lymphoma received initial treatment and underwent an i-PET. Patients with negative results continued the standard treatment. i-PET negative patients were then evaluated for response with an e-PET and those patients found to have a positive one were also then given a salvage therapy. Among 409 i-PET negative, 16 interrupted the therapy, 393 patients were evaluated with an e-PET, and 39 were positive. Sixteen out of 39 underwent a diagnostic biopsy and 15 were confirmed as HD. Seventeen out of 39 e-PET were reviewed according to the Deauville Score and, in sixteen, it was confirmed positive (10 DS 5, 6 DS 4). With the exception of high LDH value at diagnosis (p = 0.01; HR 95% CI 1.18-4.89), no clinical characteristics were significantly different in comparison with e-PET negative patients. Positive e-PET after a negative i-PET has a worse outcome when compared with i-PET positive patients salvaged with therapy intensification. It was not possible to identify clinical characteristics associated with a positive e-PET.

Anakoinosis: Correcting Aberrant Homeostasis of Cancer Tissue-Going Beyond Apoptosis Induction

The current approach to systemic therapy for metastatic cancer is aimed predominantly at inducing apoptosis of cancer cells by blocking tumor-promoting signaling pathways or by eradicating cell compartments within the tumor. In contrast, a systems view of therapy primarily considers the communication protocols that exist at multiple levels within the tumor complex, and the role of key regulators of such systems. Such regulators may have far-reaching influence on tumor response to therapy and therefore patient survival. This implies that neoplasia may be considered as a cell non-autonomous disease. The multi-scale activity ranges from intra-tumor cell compartments, to the tumor, to the tumor-harboring organ to the organism. In contrast to molecularly targeted therapies, a systems approach that identifies the complex communications networks driving tumor growth offers the prospect of disrupting or "normalizing" such aberrant communicative behaviors and therefore attenuating tumor growth. Communicative reprogramming, a treatment strategy referred to as anakoinosis, requires novel therapeutic instruments, so-called master modifiers to deliver concerted tumor growth-attenuating action. The diversity of biological outcomes following pro-anakoinotic tumor therapy, such as differentiation, trans-differentiation, control of tumor-associated inflammation, etc. demonstrates that long-term tumor control may occur in multiple forms, inducing even continuous complete remission. Accordingly, pro-anakoinotic therapies dramatically extend the repertoire for achieving tumor control and may activate apoptosis pathways for controlling resistant metastatic tumor disease and hematologic neoplasia.

Risk of Head and Neck Cancer in Patients With Prior Hematologic Malignant Tumors

Importance

More than 1.3 million people in the United States have a hematologic malignant tumor currently or in remission. Previous studies have demonstrated an increased risk of secondary neoplasms in patients with hematologic malignant tumors, but research specifically on the risk of head and neck solid tumors in patients with prior hematologic malignant tumors is limited.

Objectives

To examine a possible association between prior hematologic malignant tumors and risk of head and neck cancer and to assess the overall survival (OS) among these patients.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective analysis used the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) to identify patients with diagnoses of hematologic malignant tumors and head and neck cancers. All patients in the VA CDW with a birthdate between January 1, 1910, and December 31, 1969, were included, for a cohort of 30 939 656 veterans. Data analysis was performed from August 15, 2018, to January 31, 2019.

Exposures

Outpatient problem lists were queried for diagnoses of hematologic malignant tumor and associated malignant tumors using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes to categorize patients by history of hematologic malignant tumors.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Presence of head and neck cancer was determined from ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes of outpatient problem lists, and cancers were grouped by subsite. The OS was determined from date of death or last outpatient visit date.

Results

Of 30 939 656 patients (27 636 683 [89.3%] male; 13 971 259 [45.2%] white), 207 322 patients had a hematologic malignant tumor, of whom 1353 were later diagnosed with head and neck cancer. A history of hematologic malignant tumors was significantly associated with overall aerodigestive tract cancer, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.6 (95% CI, 1.5-1.7), as well as oral cavity (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.9), oropharynx (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.9), larynx (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.5), nasopharynx (RR, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9), sinonasal (RR, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.2-4.1), salivary gland (RR, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.4-3.3), and thyroid (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.9-2.4) tumors on subsite analysis. A prior hematologic malignant tumor was also negatively associated with 2-year and 5-year OS for multiple subsites.

Conclusions and Relevance

A prior diagnosis of hematologic or associated malignant tumors was associated with an increased risk of solid head and neck cancers in a range of subsites. In addition, for several head and neck cancer subsites, patients with prior hematologic malignant tumors had worse 2-year and 5-year OS. These results indicate that a prior hematologic malignant tumor may be an adverse risk factor in the development and progression of head and neck cancer.

Alterations of Spermatozoa Proteomic Profile in Men with Hodgkin's Disease Prior to Cancer Therapy

Purpose

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is a type of cancer affecting men in the reproductive age with potential consequences on their fertility status. This study aims to analyze sperm parameters, alterations in proteomic profiles and validate selected protein biomarkers of spermatozoa in men with HD undergoing sperm banking before cancer therapy.

Materials and Methods

Semen analysis was carried out in healthy fertile donors (control, n=42), and patients diagnosed with HD (patients, n=38) before cancer therapy. We compared proteomic profiles of spermatozoa from donors (n=3) and patients (n=3) using LTQ-Orbitrap Elite hybrid MS system.

Results

A total of 1,169 proteins were identified by global proteomic in both groups. The ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that differentially expressed proteins involved in capacitation, acrosome reaction, binding of sperm to the zona pellucida, sperm motility, regulation of sperm DNA damage, and apoptosis were significantly downregulated in HD patients. Validation of proteins implicated in sperm fertility potential by Western Blot demonstrated that peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX 2) was underexpressed (p=0.015), and transferrin (p=0.045) and SERPIN A5 (p=0.010) protein levels were overexpressed in spermatozoa of men with HD.

Conclusions

Findings of this study indicates that the key proteins involved in sperm fertility potential are significantly altered in men with HD, which provides substantial explanation for the observed low sperm quality in HD subjects prior to cancer therapy. Furthermore, our results suggest PRDX 2, transferrin and SERPIN A5 as possible candidate proteins for assessing sperm quality in HD patients prior to cancer therapy.

Controversies in the Treatment of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a B-cell-derived malignancy that mostly affects young adults. Pathologically, HL is divided into classical HL (cHL) and the rare entity of nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL. Classical HL is characterized by few malignant cells termed Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg cells embedded in an inflammatory background. The treatment of cHL has consistently improved over the last decades so that current standard approaches result in long-term remission rates in excess of 80%. However, potentially lethal therapy-related late complications affect an increasing number of survivors. For this reason, issues regarding the optimal treatment of cHL patients are still fiercely debated. Questions under discussion include how treatment can be guided by interim positron emission tomography, the best initial treatment for advanced-stage disease and the use of targeted drugs such as the antibody–drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin and the anti-PD-1 antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab. The identification of patients who should undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation is another unsolved issue. The present article highlights the most relevant clinical trials and addresses controversial open questions in the treatment of cHL.

Leucémies liées à des traitements anticancéreux : spécificités, difficultés et perspectives

Les leucémies liées à des traitements anticancéreux, radio- ou chimiothérapies sont des maladies rares, mais redoutables. De nombreux défis attendent chacun des intervenants à chaque étape de ces prises en charge. Notamment, les soignants pourront éprouver la culpabilité liée à la possible causalité avec les traitements antérieurs et les difficultés d'une information appropriée dans un contexte d'incertitude. Pour les personnes malades et les proches, la difficulté légitime face à une maladie inattendue vécue comme une double peine, l'inquiétude d'être porteur d'un terrain génétique à risque, les interrogations sur la causalité pouvant impacter avec la relation médecin–patient et, parfois paradoxalement, une plus grande adaptation que lors du premier cancer. Ces maladies nécessitent des traitements urgents et souvent intensifs, qui ne peuvent parfois être conduits de façon optimale, justement, du fait des thérapeutiques antérieurement reçues. Cependant, les évolutions actuelles tant sur le plan de la compréhension que des possibilités de se prémunir de ces maladies, et sur l'amélioration des conditions de traitements, ouvrent des perspectives jusqu'ici inespérées.

Treatment of localized-stage follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent lymphoma, and it most frequently presents in an advanced stage. Therapeutic considerations for advanced stage are different from those of localized-stage FL, in which radiotherapy (RT) is generally recommended. However, the available evidence suffers from shortcomings that are relatively specific to this clinical entity due to its rarity and long survival with all available treatment modalities, including that most of the existing evidence originated at a time when diagnostic classifications, staging procedures and radiotherapeutic standards were different from those available today and when anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies were not available. Available treatment modalities include observation, systemic therapy only, RT only and RT in combination with systemic therapy. We review the evidence available with each of them and the data from present-day clinical practice studies as well as briefly discuss what diagnostic and therapeutic developments may take place in the next few years.