Outcomes and relapse patterns following chemotherapy in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma in the positron emission tomography era.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated relapse patterns and survival in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) with positron emission tomography (PET) used for staging and response assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or above with newly diagnosed histologically proven Stage III or IV HL treated with ABVD at Calvary Mater Newcastle from January 2005 to December 2012 were included in this study. All patients underwent pre-chemotherapy staging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET or PET/computed tomography and post-chemotherapy PET or PET/computed tomography for the assessment of response. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included in the study. The 5-year disease-free survival, progression-free survival and overall survival were 88%, 74% and 86%, respectively. PET complete response was seen in 35 patients (81%), and the 5-year overall survival for this group was 94%. Relapse following a PET complete response was low (three patients) and occurred predominantly at the initial sites of disease. Four of five patients with bulky disease received consolidative radiotherapy and no in-field relapses were observed. CONCLUSION: Advanced stage HL with a PET complete response following ABVD is associated with an excellent prognosis.

Involved-field radiotherapy for patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

INTRODUCTION: Retrospective analysis was performed at a single institution to assess the responsiveness of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) to involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT). METHODS: All patients treated with IFRT to at least one site of MCL between 1998 and 2012 were included. There were 25 patients who received radiotherapy to 60 disease sites. Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) infield for the first site of MCL treated per patient. Predictors of ORR were analysed for the primary endpoint. Time to local progression (TLP) infield and progression-free survival were calculated from the start of the first treatment course. Analysis of all sites collectively was also undertaken. Survival analysis was conducted by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: ORR rate was 84% for the first site treated per patient. Complete response and partial response rates were 68% and 16% respectively. Median TLP following radiotherapy to the first site was not reached. Infield control rate was 91% at 12 months (95% confidence interval 69-97%). When analysis was performed on all 60 sites, ORR was 85%. Symptomatic improvement occurred after IFRT to 93% of all sites. Systemic progression outside the radiotherapy field was the predominant form of failure following IFRT. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy generally induced a clinical response at all levels of dose administered, ranging from 3 to 36 Gy. However, increased durability of local control was suggested with higher doses. Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for palliation of MCL with objective and symptomatic responses seen over a range of radiotherapy doses.

T1-2 anal carcinoma requires elective inguinal radiation treatment--the results of Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group study TROG 99.02.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elective inguinal irradiation increases morbidity. We describe outcomes of moderate intensity chemoradiation treating anal canal and adjacent pelvic nodes only. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients with T1-2, N0 anal carcinoma were enrolled between March 1999 and March 2003. Inguinal nodes were NOT electively irradiated. The anal canal and regional pelvic nodes received 36 Gy/20# over 4 weeks, and 2 weeks later the anal canal was boosted with 14.4 Gy/8#. Chemotherapy was 5 fluorouracil 800 mg/m(2)/day on days 1-4 and 36-39, and Mitomycin C 10mg/m(2) on day 1. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 44 months. Complete response was 95%. Four year results were; overall survival 71%, local control 82%, and colostomy-free survival (including salvage) 85%. Inguinal failure occurred in 22.5% but was isolated in only 12.5%. Treatment was well tolerated acutely with no toxic deaths. Severe late toxicity occurred in 7.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This moderate dose 'non inguinal' chemoradiation regimen resulted in modest acute toxicity, minimal long term morbidity and local control in line with other series. However staging failed to identify 12.5% of patients whose isolated inguinal failure might have been prevented by elective irradiation. Without more effective staging, all patients should receive elective inguinal irradiation.