Similar geographic distribution of mortality from multiple sclerosis, Hodgkin lymphoma, and inflammatory bowel disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiologic studies have suggested a linkage between the occurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). It was hypothesized that the 4 diagnoses would be characterized by similar geographic distributions within the United States. AIMS: To compare the US geographic distributions of these 4 diagnoses in a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Using the US vital statistics, state-specific death rates and age-specific proportional mortality ratios (PMR) were calculated for each diagnosis. Similarities in the geographic distributions of the 4 diagnoses were tested by linear and Poisson regression analyses. The PMR values from different states were correlated among pairs of consecutive age-groups. RESULTS: The 6 linear correlation coefficients (r) among the geographic distributions of the 4 diseases were as follows: HL vs. MS (r = 0.28), HL vs. CD (r = 0.74), HL vs. UC (r = 0.64); MS vs. CD (r = 0.18), MS vs. UC (r = 0.66); CD vs. UC (r = 0.58). Using Poisson regression, the geographic distributions of MS, HL, CD, and UC were all found to be significantly correlated with each other. In MS, significant correlations between the PMR values of each two consecutive age-groups started with the age-group 25-44 years. In HL, such significant correlations started at age 10-14, in CD at age 20-24, and in UC at age 20-24 years. CONCLUSIONS: Within the United States, mortality from MS, HL, CD, and UC are characterized by similar geographic distributions. The environmental influences responsible for these resembling geographic distributions start exerting their influence during early lifetime.

Late Cardiac Toxic Effects Associated With Treatment Protocols for Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children.

Importance: Contemporary North American trials for children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have decreased radiation therapy (RT) use and increased pharmacologic cardioprotection but also increased the cumulative doxorubicin dose, making overall treatment consequences for late cardiac toxic effects uncertain. Objective: To estimate the risk of cardiac toxic effects associated with treatments used in modern pediatric HL clinical trials. Design, Setting, and Participants: For this cohort study, Fine and Gray models were fitted using survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study who were diagnosed with HL between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 1999, and were followed for a median of 23.5 (range, 5.0-46.3) years. These models were applied to the exposures in the study population to estimate the 30-year cumulative incidence of cardiac disease. The study population comprised patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk HL treated in 4 consecutive Children's Oncology Group clinical trials from September 2002 to October 2022: AHOD0031, AHOD0831, AHOD1331, and S1826. Data analysis was performed from April 2020 to February 2023. Exposures: All patients received chemotherapy including doxorubicin, and some patients received mediastinal RT, dexrazoxane, or mediastinal RT and dexrazoxane. Main Outcomes and Measures: Estimated 30-year cumulative incidence of grade 3 to 5 cardiac disease. Results: The study cohort comprised 2563 patients, with a median age at diagnosis of 15 (range, 1-22) years. More than half of the patients were male (1357 [52.9%]). All 2563 patients received doxorubicin, 1362 patients (53.1%) received mediastinal RT, and 307 patients (12.0%) received dexrazoxane. Radiation therapy use and the median mean heart dose among patients receiving RT decreased, whereas the planned cumulative dose of doxorubicin and use of dexrazoxane cardioprotection increased. For patients treated at age 15 years, the estimated 30-year cumulative incidence of severe or fatal cardiac disease was 9.6% (95% CI, 4.2%-16.4%) in the AHOD0031 standard treatment group (enrolled 2002-2009), 8.6% (95% CI, 3.8%-14.9%) in the AHOD0831 trial (enrolled 2009-2012), 8.2% (95% CI, 3.6%-14.3%) in the AHOD1331 trial (enrolled 2015-2019), and 6.2% (95% CI, 2.7%-10.9%) in the S1826 trial (enrolled 2019-2022), whereas the expected rate in an untreated population was 5.0% (95% CI, 2.1%-9.3%). Despite the estimated reduction in late cardiac morbidity, the frequency of recommended echocardiographic screening among survivors will increase based on current guidelines. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of sequential HL trials, reductions in the proportion of children receiving mediastinal RT and increases in dexrazoxane use were estimated to offset the increased doxorubicin dose and produce a net reduction in late cardiac disease. Further studies on dexrazoxane are warranted to confirm whether its role in reducing cardiac toxic effects is maintained long term. These findings suggest that survivorship follow-up guidelines should be refined to align with the risks associated with treatment.

Lifetime risks of second primary malignancies after pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: Survivors after pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are with lifetime risk for second primary malignancy (SPM). This necessitates a thorough analysis to better understand the potential long-term health implications for these individuals. METHODS: We used a US-wide population-based cancer registry data to quantify the SPM risk and identify its incidence patterns among pediatric lymphoma patients. RESULTS: We observed 4.74-fold (95% CI 4.27-5.25) and 3.40-fold (95% CI 2.78-4.10) increased risks of SPM in survivors after pediatric HL and NHL, respectively. Through over 40 years' follow-up, the cumulative incidence of SPM for pediatric lymphoma was persistently increasing, and here we firstly report the high 40-year cumulative incidence rates of SPM, 22.2% for HL and 12.6% for NHL, suggesting that SPM accounts for a great proportion of deaths among survivors. Of 6805 pediatric lymphomas, 462 (6.36%) developed a SPM, especially second breast and thyroid cancer, followed by hematologic neoplasms including leukemia and NHL. The competing risk analysis demonstrated gender, lymphoma subtype and radiotherapy were significantly associated with SPM. Different risk patterns of SPM were identified between pediatric HL and NHL. Chemotherapy accelerated SPM development but did not increase its incidence risk. CONCLUSION: Overall, patients after pediatric lymphoma can be with high lifetime risk of SPM, and more attention should be paid to SPM-related signs for early detection and intervention.

Epidemiology of pediatric hematological malignancies in Kazakhstan: Data from Unified National Electronic Healthcare System 2014-2021.

We aimed to describe incidence and all-cause mortality of hematological pediatric malignancies (leukemia and lymphomas) in Kazakhstan based on nationwide large-scale healthcare data from the Unified National Electronic Healthcare System (UNEHS) for the 2014-2021 year period. The cohort included data of patients less than 18 years old with the diagnosis of hematological malignancies registered in the UNEHS (inpatient and outpatient registries) for the year period 2014-2021. Descriptive statistics were conducted to indicate socio-demographic characteristics of the cohort. Incidence and all-cause mortality were calculated per 100,000 population. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between determinants with the all-cause mortality. The total cohort consisted of 3357 children with leukemia and 1474 children with lymphomas. The mean age at diagnosis of leukemia and lymphomas was 7.3 ± 4.7 and 9.9 ± 4.9 years, respectively. The incidence rate of hematological malignancies was 6.8 per 100,000 in 2021. Patients with ALL had a higher incidence rate than patients with AML (3.4 and 1.2 per 100,000 in 2021, respectively). The incidence rate of HL and NHL was relatively similar which varied from 0.6 to 2.6 per 100,000 in 2014-2021. All-cause mortality of pediatric hematological malignancies varied from 1.1 to 1.5 per 100,000 in 2014-2021, with the peak in 2016 (1.7 per 100,000). Younger age is significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in children with AML. CONCUSION: Patients with ALL had a higher incidence rate than patients with AML. The incidence rate of HL and NHL was relatively similar. All-cause mortality rates for leukemia and lymphomas were quite stable during the study period. Younger age is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality among AML patients. However, there is no significant association of age with all-cause mortality among ALL, HL and NHL. In order to obtain more reliable data and analysis on pediatric (hematological) malignancies, specific registries for childhood tumors (including detailed information on relapses, treatments, short and long-term side effects, and specific death causes) should be implemented. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Leukemias and lymphomas together account for around 45% of all pediatric malignancies. • Lymphoma accounts for 12% of all childhood malignancies; non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are more frequent than Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL). WHAT IS NEW: • The incidence rate of ALL was higher than the incidence rate of AML throughout the whole study period, whereas all-cause mortality of ALL and AML was quite stable. • According to Cox PH analysis, younger age (0-5 years old) was associated with a higher risk of death among AML children compared to older children, and no significant association of age was observed with all-cause mortality among ALL and lymphomas.

Men treated with BEACOPP for Hodgkin lymphoma may be at increased risk of testosterone deficiency.

In the current study, we report the prevalence of male testosterone deficiency in a cohort of 60 male long-term survivors of malignant lymphoma with normal total testosterone but in the lower part of the reference level. Testosterone deficiency was defined as subnormal concentrations of total testosterone or subnormal concentrations of calculated free testosterone. The aim was to clarify whether total testosterone was sufficient for identification of testosterone deficiency in male survivors of malignant lymphoma. Hormonal analyses taken at follow-up were compared with samples taken at diagnosis for a subgroup of 20 survivors, for evaluation of changes in hormones over time. Another group of 83 similar survivors of malignant lymphoma with testosterone in the high end of reference levels were also used for comparison, to identify groups of increased risk of testosterone deficiency. A total group of 143 survivors were therefore included in the study. Our findings indicate that for screening purposes an initial total testosterone is sufficient in some survivors because sexual hormone binding globulin concentration was found stable over time. However, 15% were found with subnormal calculated free testosterone. Survivors intensely treated for Hodgkin lymphoma and older survivors were identified as high-risk groups for testosterone deficiency necessitating endocrinological attention during follow-up. Some evidence of pituitary downregulation was also found, because of uncompensated decreases in testosterone concentration over time. In conclusion, longitudinal measurements of total testosterone alone do not seem adequate for the screening of testosterone deficiency for all long-term lymphoma survivors.

Role of non-chromosomal birth defects on the risk of developing childhood Hodgkin lymphoma: A Children's Oncology Group study.

BACKGROUND: Non-chromosomal birth defects are an important risk factor for several childhood cancers. However, these associations are less clear for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Therefore, we sought to more fully elucidate the association between non-chromosomal birth defects and HL risk. PROCEDURE: Information on cases (n = 517) diagnosed with HL (ages of 0-14) at Children's Oncology Group Institutions for the period of 1989-2003 was obtained. Control children without a history of cancer (n = 784) were identified using random digit dialing and individually matched to cases on sex, race/ethnicity, age, and geographic location. Parents completed comprehensive interviews and answered questions including whether their child had been born with a non-chromosomal birth defect. To test the association between birth defects and HL risk, conditional logistic regression was applied to generate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Children born with any non-chromosomal birth defect were not more likely to be diagnosed with HL at 0-14 years of age (aOR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.69-1.21). No associations were detected between major or minor birth defects and HL (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.67-2.67 and aOR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.57-1.34, respectively). Similarly, no association was observed for children born with any birth defect and EBV-positive HL (aOR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.25-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: Previous assessments of HL in children with non-chromosomal birth defects have been limited. Using data from the largest case-control study of HL in those <15 years of age, we did not observe strong associations between being born with a birth defect and HL risk.

Concurrence of inflammatory bowel disease with multiple sclerosis or Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share a common set of risk factors with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). It was hypothesized that such shared risk factors would lead to clustering of the 4 diagnoses in the same patients. METHODS: All patients with HL, MS, CD, or UC were identified in the veterans population from 2016-2020 and the Medicare population from 1986 to 1989. In a case-control study, the observed concurrences amongst these 4 diagnoses were compared with their expected frequencies in the overall veterans or Medicare population during the same time period by calculating odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The study included 6 million veterans and 35 million Medicare patients. In the veterans population, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was significantly associated with a concurrent diagnosis of HL (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.71) and MS (1.34, 1.19-1.50). In the Medicare population, IBD was also significantly associated with HL (1.84, 1.07-3.17) and MS (2.31, 1.59-3.35). Similar trends were observed in CD or UC when analyzed separately in both datasets. In the veterans population, adjustment for the potentially confounding influence of ethnicity, sex, and age left all OR values largely unaffected and statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The concurrence of IBD with HL or MS could reflect on a common pathway in the etiology or pathogenesis of these 4 diseases.

Lifetime occupational and recreational physical activity and risk of lymphoma subtypes. Results from the European Epilymph case-control study.

Physical activity is known to convey protection against several cancers. However, results on the risk of lymphoma overall and its subtypes have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate occupational and recreational physical activity in relation to risk of lymphoma subtypes adjusting for established occupational risk factors. We applied standardized tools to assess energy expenditure at work and in recreational physical activities to the questionnaire information on lifetime work and exercise history in 1117 lymphoma cases, including Hodgkin lymphoma, and B-cell (including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma) and T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) subtypes, and 1207 controls who took part in the multicentre European EpiLymph case-control study. We calculated the risk of lymphoma (all subtypes), B-cell NHL and its most represented subtypes, and Hodgkin's lymphoma (all subtypes) associated with weekly average Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET-hours/week) and cumulative MET-hours of lifetime recreational, occupational, and total physical activity, with unconditional logistic regression and polytomous regression analysis adjusting by age, centre, sex, education, body mass index, history of farm work and solvent use. We observed an inverse association of occupational, and total physical activity with risk of lymphoma (all subtypes), and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among women, and an upward trend in risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma with recreational and total physical activity among men, for which we cannot exclude chance or bias. Our results suggest no effect of overall physical activity on risk of lymphoma and its subtypes.

Exposure to pesticides and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma in an international consortium of agricultural cohorts (AGRICOH).

PURPOSE: Some pesticides may increase the risk of certain lymphoid malignancies, but few studies have examined Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In this exploratory study, we examined associations between agricultural use of 22 individual active ingredients and 13 chemical groups and HL incidence. METHODS: We used data from three agricultural cohorts participating in the AGRICOH consortium: the French Agriculture and Cancer Cohort (2005-2009), Cancer in the Norwegian Agricultural Population (1993-2011), and the US Agricultural Health Study (1993-2011). Lifetime pesticide use was estimated from crop-exposure matrices or self-report. Cohort-specific covariate-adjusted overall and age-specific (< 40 or ≥ 40 years) hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression and combined using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Among 316 270 farmers (75% male) accumulating 3 574 815 person-years at risk, 91 incident cases of HL occurred. We did not observe statistically significant associations for any of the active ingredients or chemical groups studied. The highest risks of HL overall were observed for the pyrethroids deltamethrin (meta-HR = 1.86, 95% CI 0.76-4.52) and esfenvalerate (1.86, 0.78-4.43), and inverse associations of similar magnitude were observed for parathion and glyphosate. Risk of HL at ≥ 40 years of age was highest for ever-use of dicamba (2.04, 0.93-4.50) and lowest for glyphosate (0.46, 0.20-1.07). CONCLUSION: We report the largest prospective investigation of these associations. Nonetheless, low statistical power, a mixture of histological subtypes and a lack of information on tumour EBV status complicate the interpretability of the results. Most HL cases occurred at older ages, thus we could not explore associations with adolescent or young adult HL. Furthermore, estimates may be attenuated due to non-differential exposure misclassification. Future work should aim to extend follow-up and refine both exposure and outcome classification.

[Epidemiology of classical Hodgkin lymphoma]. / Épidémiologie du lymphome de Hodgkin.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CLASSICAL HODGKIN LYMPHOMA. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare neoplasia but represents one of the most common cancers in adults younger than 40 years old. Epidemiology of Hodgkin lymphoma remains fascinating with specific incidence patterns depending of age, socio-economic status, histological subtypes and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) tumor status. These findings are in favor of several diseases with different pathogenesis. A better understanding of biological specificities of some Hodgkin lymphoma subgroups such as those presenting by older patients might be helpful to improve treatment strategies and outcome. Currently, no causal agent has been identified. Some risk factors are described, especially genetic ones, but no specific screening or prevention procedure are currently indicated.

ÉPIDÉMIOLOGIE DU LYMPHOME DE HODGKIN. Le lymphome de Hodgkin est une néoplasie rare, mais les spécificités de son incidence en font l'un des cancers les plus fréquents chez l'adulte de moins de 40 ans. L'épidémiologie du lymphome de Hodgkin est fascinante, avec une variabilité qui dépend de l'âge, des conditions socio-économiques, du sous-type histologique et de l'intégration du virus d'Epstein-Barr (EBV) à la cellule tumorale. L'ensemble de ces données sous-tend probablement plusieurs maladies ayant des physiopathologies différentes. Leur meilleure compréhension pourrait améliorer le pronostic de certaines formes de pronostic défavorable, comme celles des patients les plus âgés. Aucun agent causal n'est actuellement connu. Des facteurs de risque ont été déterminés, notamment génétiques, mais sans indication de procédures de dépistage ni de prévention dans l'état actuel des connaissances.

Treatment patterns and outcomes for Hodgkin Lymphoma patients aged 60 and older: a report from the Brazilian Prospective Hodgkin Lymphoma Registry.

The treatment of older patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) remains a challenge. We sought to identify the treatment patterns and outcomes in older HL patients included in the Brazilian HL registry (NCT02589548). A total of 136 patients with HIV-negative classic HL, aged ≥ 60 years, diagnosed between 2009 and 2018, were analyzed. The median age was 66 years old (60-90), 72% had advanced disease, 62% had a high IPS, and 49% had a nodular sclerosis subtype. Median follow-up was 64 months for alive patients. ABVD was the front-line treatment in 96% of patients. Twenty-one patients (15%) died during front-line treatment. The 5-year PFS and 5-year OS rates were 55% and 59%, respectively. The 5-year OS rates in localized and advanced disease were 81% and 51% (p=0.013). Lung toxicity developed in 11% of the patients treated with ABVD. Bleomycin was administered for > 2 cycles in 65% of patients. Compared with 2009-2014, there was a decrease in the use of bleomycin for > 2 cycles in 2015-2018 (88% × 45%, p<0.0001). The impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on outcomes was studied in patients treated with ABVD. After adjusting for potential confounders, lower SES remained independently associated with poorer survival (HR 2.22 [1.14-4.31] for OS and HR 2.84 [1.48-5.45] for PFS). Treatment outcomes were inferior to those observed in developed countries. These inferior outcomes were due to an excess of deaths during front-line treatment and the excessive use of bleomycin. SES was an independent factor for shorter survival.

Global burden of hematologic malignancies and evolution patterns over the past 30 years.

Hematologic malignancies are among the most common cancers, and understanding their incidence and death is crucial for targeting prevention, clinical practice improvement, and research resources appropriately. Here, we investigated detailed information on hematological malignancies for the period 1990-2019 from the Global Burden of Disease study. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), the age-standardized death rate (ASDR), and the corresponding estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated to assess temporal trends in 204 countries and territories over the past 30 years. Globally, incident cases of hematologic malignancies have been increasing since 1990, reaching 1343.85 thousand in 2019, but the ASDR for all types of hematologic malignancies has been declining. The ASDR for leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma were 4.26, 1.42, 3.19, and 0.34 per 100,000 population in 2019, respectively, with Hodgkin lymphoma showing the most significant decline. However, the trend varies by gender, age, region, and the country's economic situation. The burden of hematologic malignancies is generally higher in men, and this gender gap decreases after peaking at a given age. The regions with the largest increasing trend in the ASIR of leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma were Central Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, and Caribbean, respectively. In addition, the proportion of deaths attributed to high body-mass index continued to rise across regions, especially in regions with high socio-demographic indices (SDI). Meanwhile, the burden of leukemia from occupational exposure to benzene and formaldehyde was more widespread in areas with low SDI. Thus, hematologic malignancies remain the leading cause of the global tumor burden, with growing absolute numbers but sharp among several age-standardized measures over the past three decades. The results of the study will inform analysis of trends in the global burden of disease for specific hematologic malignancies and develop appropriate policies for these modifiable risks.

Work and education interruption in long-term Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: an analysis among patients from nine EORTC-LYSA trials.

BACKGROUND: Disease-specific studies on the impact of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on education or work interruption and resumption are lacking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study conducted among long-term HL survivors enrolled from 1964 to 2004 in nine randomised EORTC-LYSA trials, the interruption and resumption of education/work was investigated. Survivors alive 5-44 years after diagnosis who were studying or working at time of diagnosis were included (n = 1646). Patient and treatment characteristics were obtained from trial records. Education and work outcomes were collected using the Life Situation Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to model education or work interruption; Cox regression was used to study resumption rates. RESULTS: Among survivors studying at time of diagnosis (n = 323), 52% (95% CI: 46-57%) interrupted their education; however, it was resumed within 24 months by 92% (95% CI: 87-96%). The probability of interruption decreased with time: the more recent the treatment era, the lower the risk (OR 0.70 per 10 years, 95% CI: 0.49-1.01). Treatment with radiotherapy (yes vs. no) was associated with a higher education resumption rate (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.07-3.78) whereas age, sex, stage, radiotherapy field and chemotherapy were not.Among survivors working at time of diagnosis (n = 1323), 77% (95% CI: 75-79%) interrupted their work. However, it was resumed within 24 months by 86% (95% CI: 84%-88%). Women were more likely to interrupt their work as compared to men (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.44-2.51) and, when interrupted, less likely to resume work (HR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.61-0.80). Survivors with a higher educational level were less likely to interrupt their work (OR 0.68 for university vs. no high school, 95% CI: 0.46-1.03); and when interrupted, more likely to resume work (HR 1.50 for university vs. no high school, 95% CI: 1.21-1.86). Increasing age was also associated with lower resumption rates (HR 0.62 for age ≥50 vs. 18-29 years, 95% CI: 0.41-0.94). CONCLUSION: An interruption in education/work was common among long-term HL survivors. However, most of the survivors who interrupted their studies or work had resumed their activities within 24 months. In this study, no associations between survivors' characteristics and failure to resume education were observed. Female sex, age ≥50 years, and a lower level of education were found to be associated with not resuming work after treatment for HL.

Estimating long-term outcomes in classic Hodgkin lymphoma: a United States population-based oncology simulation model based on overall survival from the ECHELON-1 trial.

The six-year ECHELON-1 update showed a survival advantage for frontline (1 L) A + AVD (brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) vs ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) for stage III/IV classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). As clinical trials have limited ability to track patients for extended periods, we developed an oncology simulation model using ECHELON-1 data to estimate population-based cHL outcomes in the US over 10 years (through 2031). The model included a scenario without (64.5% ABVD, 35.5% PET-adapted ABVD utilization) and scenarios with 1 L A + AVD (27%-80%k utilization). At 27%-80% A + AVD utilization, the model estimated 13.6%-31.7% fewer deaths, 2.4%-6.3% more patients ≥5 years progression free, 9.4%-24.4% fewer stem cell transplants (SCTs), and 7.8%-22.5% fewer second cancers over 10 years. These results suggest that the improved outcomes observed in the ECHELON-1 update with A + AVD vs ABVD may translate to more patients alive and fewer with primary relapsed/refractory cHL, SCTs, and second cancers.

Similar geographic distributions of death rates from inflammatory bowel disease and Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: A previous comparative analysis of the time trends of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC) suggested that the occurrence of all four diseases was precipitated by exposure to similar environmental risk factors during early lifetime. In the present cross-sectional study, it was hypothesized that besides their resembling temporal variations the four diseases would also show similar geographic distributions. METHODS: Using the vital statistics of 21 countries from 1951 to 2020, overall and age-specific death rates from the four diseases were calculated for each individual country. The death rates of different countries were compared using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The data revealed strikingly similar geographic distributions of all four diseases. Their occurrence was common in Europe and relatively uncommon in countries outside Europe. Further stratification by consecutive age groups showed that for each disease analyzed separately, there were significant correlations amongst each two sequential age groups. In HL and UC, the inter-age correlations started at age 5 years or less. In MS and CD, the inter-age correlations only started at age 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: The similarities in the geographic distributions of death rates from HL, MS, CD, and UC suggest that these four diseases share a set of one or more common environmental risk factors. The data also support the contention that the exposure to such shared risk factors starts during an early period of lifetime.

Hodgkin lymphoma in Brazil: trends in incidence and mortality over 4 decades.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, there is lack of studies on the incidence and mortality of this malignancy. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of HL in Brazil for incidence, mortality and trends. METHODS: Data on incidence in Brazil were collected from Population-Based Cancer Registries (1988-2017) and mortality for 1979-2019. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated. Average annual percent change was estimated and analyzed in two calendar periods for mortality (1979-1999 and 2000-2019). RESULTS: Trends in the incidence of HL for males in Brazil declined in two state capitals - Belo Horizonte, -3.7% (95% CI, -7.1 to -0.3); and Salvador, -8.5% (95% CI, -13.0 to -3.8) - and remained stable in other cities. For females, two capitals showed a decrease in incidence: Salvador, -9.5% (95% CI, -15.3 to -3.2) and Porto Alegre, -3.9% (95% CI, -7.0 to -0.8). Mortality rates in males were higher than those in females. However, the decrease in mortality was greater in males, -2.2% (95% CI, -2.5 to -1.8). Age incidence distribution across Brazilian capitals showed a higher incidence among younger (15-30 years) individuals yet no clear incidence among older adults (>60 years). CONCLUSION: The incidence trend of HL in Brazil has remained stable. While the mortality rates have decreased for both sexes. Age distribution for mortality at a young age and older ages follows the bimodal pattern for Brazil as a whole. Finally, further studies are necessary to understand age incidence distribution of HL in Brazil.

Reproduction patterns among classical Hodgkin lymphoma survivors treated with BEACOPP and ABVD in Sweden, Denmark and Norway-A population-based matched cohort study.

Childbirth rates in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) survivors have historically been reduced compared to the general population. Understanding if contemporary treatment protocols are associated with reduced fertility is crucial as treatment guidelines shift toward more liberal use of intensive chemotherapy. We identified 2834 individuals aged 18-40 years with cHL in Swedish and Danish lymphoma registers, and in the clinical database at Oslo University Hospital diagnosed 1995-2018, who were linked to national medical birth registers. Cox regression adjusted for stage, performance status, year, and age at diagnosis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) contrasting time to first childbirth by treatment groups (ABVD, 2-4 BEACOPP, 6-8 BEACOPP) up to 10 years after diagnosis. Overall, 74.8% of patients were treated with ABVD, 3.1% with 2-4 BEACOPP and 11.2% with 6-8 BEACOPP. Adjusted HRs comparing childbirth rates in individuals treated with 6-8 BEACOPP, and 2-4 BEACOPP to ABVD were 0.53 (CI: 0.36-0.77) and 0.33 (CI: 0.12-0.91) for males, and 0.91 (CI: 0.61-1.34) and 0.38 (CI: 0.12-1.21) for females. Cumulative incidence of childbirths after 10 years was 19.8% (CI: 14.5%-27.0%) for males and 34.3% (CI: 25.8%-45.6%) for females treated with 6-8 BEACOPP. Proportions of children born after assisted reproductive technique (ART) treatments were 77.4% (CI: 60.2-88.6%) for males following 6-8 BEACOPP, and <11% for females. Among ABVD treated patients the corresponding proportions were 12.2% (CI: 8.5%-17.3%) and 10.6% (CI: 7.4%-14.9%). BEACOPP treatment is associated with decreased childbirth rates compared to ABVD in male, but not female, cHL patients, despite widespread access to ART in the Nordics.

Long-term outcomes in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. Temporary trends and comparison with general population.

The high cure rates of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) make this oncological disease among those with the greatest number of long-term survivors. This single-institution study including 383 HL patients with up to 45 years of follow-up, analyses the morbidity and mortality of this population after treatments in comparison with the overall Spanish population, and investigates whether it has changed over time stratifying by periods of time, as a consequence of therapeutic optimization. The median age was 34.8 years (range 15-87) with median overall survival of 30 years, significantly higher in women (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.42-0.79) (p = 0.0002). 185 late-stage diseases were noted (35% patients), cardiovascular disease (CVD) being the most frequent (23.2%). 30% of patients developed at least one second malignant neoplasm (SMN) to give a total of 174 SMNs. 20.9% of the patients died from HL and 67.0% died from non-HL causes (32.2% from SMN, 17% from CVD). The overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 3.57 (95% CI: 3.0-4.2), with striking values of 7.73 (95% CI: 5.02-8.69) and of 14.75 (95% CI: 11.38-19.12) for women and patients <30 years at diagnosis, respectively. Excluding HL as the cause of death, the SMRs of those diagnosed before 2000 and from 2000 were proved to be similar (3.88 vs 2.73), maintaining in this last period an unacceptable excess of mortality due to secondary toxicity in patients cured of HL. Our study confirm that HL treatment substantially reduces the life expectancy of patients cured of HL. In recent periods, despite therapeutic optimization, deaths from toxicity continue to occur, mainly from CVD and SMN. Risk-factor monitoring should be intensified, prevention programs developed, and therapeutic optimization of LH investigated, especially in two vulnerable groups: those aged <30 years at diagnosis, and women.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Older Patients With Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Australasian Lymphoma Alliance, and Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry Study.

BACKGROUND: There is no standard front-line therapy for older patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We analyzed the clinical presentation and front-line management of older Australian patients with cHL and explored factors associated with unplanned hospital admission and survival. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 61 years and diagnosed between 2011 and 2020, were retrospectively identified through the Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry (LaRDR) and Australasian Lymphoma Alliance (ALA) institutional databases. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed using STATA-v17. RESULTS: 195 patients were identified, 72 from LaRDR,123 from ALA. Median age of the combined cohort was 72 years (range 61-93); 56.4% male, 35.3% had stage I-II, bulk present in 9.2%, 33.9% had extra-nodal disease and 48.2% had B-symptoms. Chemotherapy was commenced in 91.3% of patients, with an anthracycline-based regimen used in 81%. Median number of cycles given for stage I-II was 2 and for stage III-IV was 6. Radiotherapy was administered in 26.2% of patients. A complete remission to front-line chemotherapy was achieved in 60.7% of patients. During front-line therapy in the ALA cohort, 89 unplanned hospitalizations occurred in 58 patients, with infection accounting for 59.6% of admissions. Treatment-related mortality was 5.2%. Only performance status and anthracycline use correlated with unplanned hospitalizations. Estimated 2-year progression free survival was 63.7% and 2-year overall survival was 71.2%. Anthracycline use and younger age were independently associated with improved survival. CONCLUSION: The management of older patients with cHL in Australia is diverse but aligns with international data. Anthracycline-based therapy improved survival but resulted in frequent unplanned hospitalizations.

Association of Radiation and Procarbazine Dose With Risk of Colorectal Cancer Among Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Importance: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors have higher rates of colorectal cancer, which may be associated with subdiaphragmatic radiation therapy and/or alkylating chemotherapy. Although radiation dose-response associations with breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer after HL have been demonstrated, the association of radiation therapy with colorectal cancer remains unclear. Objective: To quantify the rate of colorectal cancer according to radiation dose to the large bowel and procarbazine dose among HL survivors. Design, Setting, and Participants: A nested case-control study examined 5-year HL survivors at 5 hospital centers in the Netherlands. Participants had been diagnosed with HL in 1964 to 2000, when they were 15 to 50 years of age, and were followed for a median of approximately 26 years. Survivors of HL who developed colorectal cancer and survivors who were selected as controls were individually matched on sex, age at HL diagnosis, and date of HL diagnosis. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to October 2022. Exposures: Mean radiation doses to the large bowel were estimated by reconstructing individual radiation therapy treatments on representative computed tomography data sets. Main Outcomes and Measures: Excess rate ratios (ERRs) were modeled to evaluate the excess risk associated with each 1-gray increase in radiation dose, and potential effect modification by procarbazine was explored. Results: The study population included 316 participants (mean [SD] age at HL diagnosis, 33.0 [9.8] years; 221 [69.9%] men), 78 of whom were HL survivors who developed colorectal cancer (cases) and 238 who did not (controls). The median (IQR) interval between HL and colorectal cancer was 25.7 (18.2-31.6) years. Increased colorectal cancer rates were seen for patients who received subdiaphragmatic radiation therapy (rate ratio [RR], 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.1) and those who received more than 8.4 g/m2 procarbazine (RR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-5.0). Overall, colorectal cancer rate increased linearly with mean radiation dose to the whole large bowel and dose to the affected bowel segment. The association between radiation dose and colorectal cancer rate became stronger with increasing procarbazine dose: the ERR per gray to the whole bowel was 3.5% (95% CI, 0.4%-12.6%) for patients who did not receive procarbazine, and increased 1.2-fold (95% CI, 1.1-1.3) for each 1-g/m2 increase in procarbazine dose. Conclusions and Relevance: This nested case-control study of 5-year HL survivors found a dose-response association between radiation therapy and colorectal cancer risk, and modification of this association by procarbazine. These findings may enable individualized colorectal cancer risk estimations, identification of high-risk survivors for subsequent screening, and optimization of treatment strategies.