Interim positron emission tomography and clinical outcome in patients with early stage Hodgkin lymphoma treated with combined modality therapy

Leuk Lymphoma. 2013 Jun;54(6):1183-7. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2012.735667. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether interim positron emission tomography (iPET) is prognostic in a cohort of patients with early stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) homogeneously treated with 3-4 cycles of ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) followed by 30 Gy involved field radiotherapy. Eighty patients were selected (stage I-IIA HL, availability of iPET, minimum follow-up of 12 months), and after central review, 70 were judged negative (iPET-: 87.5%) and 10 positive (iPET+: 12.5%). The two groups were then analyzed for response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Only one out of 70 iPET- patients relapsed, with 69 in continuous complete remission (CCR). All 10 iPET + patients achieved a complete response and maintained persistent CCR at follow-up. The 3-year PFS and OS were, respectively, 97% and 98.4% for iPET- and 100% and 100% for iPET+ (p = 0.63). iPET positivity does not seem to be a significant prognostic factor, and change in therapeutic strategy on the basis of iPET does not appear currently advisable outside clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnosis*
  • Hodgkin Disease / mortality
  • Hodgkin Disease / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult