The Utility of PET/CT in Guiding Radiotherapy Reduction for Children With Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated With ABVD

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Mar;42(2):e87-e93. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001534.

Abstract

ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) is standard upfront chemotherapy for adults diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), but positron emission tomography (PET)-based response data following ABVD is lacking for pediatrics. Among children who received ABVD for HL, we document interim and end of therapy PET-computed tomography (CT) response by Deauville criteria, and survival outcomes following a response-based reduction in involved field radiotherapy (IFRT). Children 18 years of age or below with HL treated with ABVD between 2006 and 2015 who had interim PET/CT scans after 2 cycles of chemotherapy were included. Interim and end of therapy PET/CT scans were retrospectively re-evaluated using Deauville criteria by 3 radiologists. Among 45 children, 32 (71%) met criteria for intermediate risk, 86% achieved rapid early response (RER) and only 4 (9%) received upfront IFRT. Patients achieving RER had superior 5-year event-free survival (EFS) 95%±4% versus 50%±18% (P≤0.001) and overall survival (OS) 100% versus 83%±15% (P=0.025). Patients with bulk who achieved RER and received no IFRT achieved 5-year EFS of 92%±6% and OS 100%. Low, intermediate, and high risk patients had 5-year EFS of 100%, 94%±4%, and 50%±18% (P=0.002) and 5-year OS of 100%, 100%, and 75%±15% (P=0.03). RER following 2 cycles of ABVD is predictive of survival outcomes in children and adolescents with HL and may identify a group who may omit IFRT.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Chemoradiotherapy / mortality*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Hodgkin Disease / pathology*
  • Hodgkin Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism
  • Radiotherapy / mortality*
  • Radiotherapy, Image-Guided / mortality*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Vinblastine / administration & dosage
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Bleomycin
  • Vinblastine
  • Dacarbazine
  • Doxorubicin