Response-adapted omission of radiotherapy and comparison of consolidation chemotherapy in children and adolescents with intermediate-stage and advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (EuroNet-PHL-C1): a titration study with an open-label, embedded, multinational, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial

Meeting proceedings: International Society for Fertility Preservation Tokyo, 15-17 November, 2024

The 8 th International Congress of the ISFP was held in Tokyo, Japan, from November 15 to 17, 2024. The theme of this year's Congress was "Rethinking Personalized Fertility Preservation and Cancer Survivors-Opening a New Frontier". The congress featured special lectures, keynote addresses, and 25 sessions-including a dedicated session on nursing and oral presentations by young doctors and researchers-making it one of the largest and most comprehensive events in the ISFP's history. Additionally, the program incorporated sessions featuring the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese Societies for Fertility Preservation, providing a convenient platform for international participants from across the globe to showcase their work and discuss the unique characteristics and challenges of these areas within Asia. Participants also had the opportunity to attend workshops on ovarian tissue cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation, conducted by leaders in their respective fields exploring the latest technological and clinical advances and translational prospects for the future.

Transplant-Free Approach in Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Retrieval strategies for children, adolescents, and young adults with relapsed classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) aim to maintain efficacy while minimizing long-term toxic effects. Children, adolescents, and young adults with low-risk, relapsed cHL may benefit from replacing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant with less intensive involved-site radiotherapy (ISRT).

Objective

To evaluate a risk-stratified, response-adapted, transplant-free approach for treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with low-risk relapsed cHL with nivolumab plus brentuximab vedotin (BV) followed by BV plus bendamustine for patients with suboptimal response and ISRT (30.0 to 30.6 Gy).

Design, Setting, and Participants

CheckMate 744 (R1 cohort) was a phase 2, nonrandomized, single-arm study enrolling children, adolescents, and young adults aged 5 to 30 years with low-risk cHL between September 25, 2017, and December 16, 2020, across the US, Canada, and Europe. Data were analyzed from September 2017 to November 2022.

Exposures

Patients received 4 cycles of nivolumab plus BV induction; patients with complete metabolic response (CMR) received an additional 2 cycles of nivolumab plus BV while patients with suboptimal response received 2 cycles of BV plus bendamustine intensification. Patients with CMR after induction or intensification received ISRT consolidation.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Prespecified coprimary end points were CMR rate (Lugano 2014 classification) any time before ISRT and 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate, per blinded independent central review (BICR).

Results

Of 28 included patients treated in the low-risk cohort, 18 (64%) were female, and the median (range) age was 17 (6-27) years. At a median (range) follow-up of 31.9 (2.2-55.3) months, CMR per BICR any time before ISRT was 93% (26 of 28; 90% CI, 79.2-98.7; objective response rate [ORR], 100%), and 23 of 28 (82%) achieved CMR per BICR after 4 cycles of nivolumab plus BV (ORR, 96.4%). Kaplan-Meier estimates of EFS and progression-free survival rates at 3 years were 87% (3 of 18; 90% CI, 69.5-94.7) and 95% (1 of 18; 90% CI, 76.7-99.0), respectively. During induction, 22 patients (79%) had treatment-related adverse events, including 7 with grade 3 or 4 adverse events, 2 with anemia, 1 with neutropenia, and 6 with immune-mediated adverse events. Serious adverse events leading to discontinuation occurred in 2 patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

This nonrandomized clinical trial found that for children, adolescents, and young adults with low-risk, relapsed cHL, a transplant-free, risk-adapted, response-based approach with nivolumab plus BV and ISRT offered high CMR rates and high 3-year EFS rate, with a safety profile consistent with that of each agent used.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02927769.

Transplant and Nontransplant Salvage Therapy in Pediatric Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: The EuroNet-PHL-R1 Phase 3 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The current standard-of-care salvage therapy in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) includes consolidation high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT)/autologous stem cell transplant (aSCT).

Objective

To investigate whether presalvage risk factors and fludeoxyglucose-18 (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) response to reinduction chemotherapy can guide escalation or de-escalation between HDCT/aSCT or transplant-free consolidation with radiotherapy to minimize toxic effects while maintaining high cure rates.

Design, Setting, and Participants

EuroNet-PHL-R1 was a nonrandomized clinical trial that enrolled patients younger than 18 years with first relapsed/refractory cHL across 68 sites in 13 countries in Europe between January 2007 and January 2013. Data were analyzed between September 2022 and July 2024.

Intervention

Reinduction chemotherapy consisted of alternating IEP (ifosfamide, etoposide, prednisolone) and ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine). Patients with low-risk disease (late relapse after 2 cycles of first-line chemotherapy and any relapse with an adequate response after 1 IEP/ABVD defined as complete metabolic response on FDG-PET and at least 50% volume reduction) received a second IEP/ABVD cycle and radiotherapy (RT) to all sites involved at relapse. Patients with high-risk disease (all primary progressions and relapses with inadequate response after 1 IEP/ABVD cycle) received a second IEP/ABVD cycle plus HDCT/aSCT with or without RT.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was 5-year event-free survival. Secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). PFS was identical to event-free survival because no secondary cancers were observed. PFS data alone are presented for simplicity.

Results

Of 118 patients analyzed, 58 (49.2%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 16.3 (14.5-17.6) years. The median (IQR) follow-up was 67.5 (58.5-77.0) months. The overall 5-year PFS was 71.3% (95% CI, 63.5%-80.1%), and OS was 82.7% (95% CI, 75.8%-90.1%). For patients in the low-risk group (n = 59), 41 received nontransplant salvage with a 5-year PFS of 89.7% (95% CI, 80.7%-99.8%) and OS of 97.4% (95% CI, 92.6%-100%). In contrast, 18 received HDCT/aSCT off protocol, with a 5-year PFS of 88.9% (95% CI, 75.5%-100%) and OS of 100%. All 59 patients with high-risk disease received HDCT/aSCT (and 23 received post-HDCT/aSCT RT) with a 5-year PFS of 53.3% (95% CI, 41.8%-67.9%) and OS of 66.5% (95% CI, 54.9%-80.5%).

Conclusion and Relevance

In this nonrandomized clinical trial, FDG-PET response-guided salvage in relapsed cHL may identify patients in whom transplant-free salvage achieves excellent outcomes. HDCT/aSCT may be reserved for primary progression and relapsed cHL with inadequate response.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00433459.

Should adolescents and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma be treated as children or adults?

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of the most common cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Paediatric and adult therapeutic strategies diverge while sharing the common objective: maintaining optimal efficacy with less long-term toxicity. However, few studies have compared the outcome of AYA treated according to one or the other approaches. Among the 148 patients aged 15-25 years, treated at Saint-Louis Hospital for newly diagnosed HL between 2012 and 2018, 71 were treated according to an adult protocol and 77 were treated according to a paediatric one. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were, respectively, 100% and 85%, with no significant difference between treatment groups (85% in paediatric vs. 86% in adult, p = 0.7). Overall, the 5-year PFS was 100% for early favourable stages and 78% for advanced stages. A higher risk of short-term steroid and vincristine-related toxicities was observed in paediatric regimen, whereas a higher risk of late toxicities was expected in adult regimen, due to higher anthracyclines, procarbazine, bleomycin and radiotherapy exposure. These results confirm the excellent outcome of AYA patients with HL, whatever the treatment strategies. They justify a tailor-made therapeutic decision and highlight the importance of managing AYA patients in dedicated units with trained professionals.

CT, MRI, and FDG PET/CT in the Assessment of Lymph Node Involvement in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Expert Consensus Definition by an International Collaboration on Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization for Children, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL)

Staging of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma is currently based on the Ann Arbor classification, incorporating the Cotswold modifications and the Lugano classification. The Cotswold modifications provide guidelines for the use of CT and MRI. The Lugano classification emphasizes the importance of CT and PET/CT in evaluating both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma but focuses on adult patients. This article presents consensus guidelines that extend the traditional classifications used for adult Hodgkin lymphoma staging and provide rigorous definitions of lymph node groups based on MRI, CT, and fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT findings. This allows consistent terminology and definitions, using metabolic and morphologic imaging to identify affected lymph nodes or extranodal regions and organs. The pattern of involvement, together with other individual risk factors, determines treatment strategy. In case of inadequate response to chemotherapy, radiation therapy is often required. Standardization of staging definitions for pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma is necessary for comparing treatment outcomes between North American and European clinical trials and a prerequisite for clear communication during tumor boards and central review. This comprehensive imaging atlas is intended to provide regional criteria for nodal involvement and to serve as a standardized guide for the anatomic assignment of lymph node involvement in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma.

The genomic and clinical consequences of replacing procarbazine with dacarbazine in escalated BEACOPP for Hodgkin lymphoma: a retrospective, observational study

BACKGROUND

Procarbazine-containing chemotherapy regimens are associated with cytopenias and infertility, suggesting stem-cell toxicity. When treating Hodgkin lymphoma, procarbazine in escalated-dose bleomycin-etoposide-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide-vincristine-procarbazine-prednisolone (eBEACOPP) is increasingly replaced with dacarbazine (eBEACOPDac) to reduce toxicity. We aimed to investigate the impact of this drug substitution on the mutation burden in stem cells, patient survival, and toxicity.

METHODS

In this two-part retrospective, observational study, we first compared mutational landscapes in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma in remission for at least 6 months who had been treated with eBEACOPDac (eBEACOPDac cohort), eBEACOPP (real-world eBEACOPP cohort), or doxorubicin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine (ABVD); in buccal DNA from five children of a female patient with classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated with eBEACOPP before conceiving the third child; in sperm DNA from a patient with mild oligospermia treated with eBEACOPP; and in caecal adenocarcinoma and healthy colon tissue from a survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma treated with chlorambucil-vinblastine-procarbazine-prednisolone. For the second part, we analysed efficacy and toxicity data from adult patients (aged >16 years) treated with first-line eBEACOPDac (eBEACOPDac cohort) at 25 centres across UK, Ireland, and France; efficacy was compared with the German HD18 eBEACOPP trial data and toxicity with a UK real-world dataset. Participants in the German HD18 and UK real-world datasets were adults (aged >16 years) with previously untreated Hodgkin lymphoma, treated with first-line eBEACOPP. We had two co-primary objectives: to define the comparative stem-cell mutation burden and mutational signatures after treatment with or without procarbazine-containing chemotherapy (first study part); and to determine progression-free survival of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma treated with eBEACOPP or eBEACOPDac (second study part). Secondary objectives included overall survival and explored differences in specific toxicity outcomes, including transfusion requirements and measures of reproductive health (second study part).

FINDINGS

In the first part of the study (mutational analysis), patients treated with eBEACOPP (n=5) exhibited a higher burden of point mutations in HSPCs compared with those treated with eBEACOPDac (n=4) or ABVD (n=3; excess mutations 1150 [95% CI 934-1366] vs 290 [241-339] vs 186 [116-254]). Two novel mutational signatures, SBSA (SBS25-like) and SBSB, were identified in HSPCs and in a single neoplastic and healthy colon sample from patients who received procarbazine-containing chemotherapy. SBSB was also identified in germline DNA of three children conceived after eBEACOPP and in sperm of a male patient treated with eBEACOPP. SBSC was detected in patients treated with either ABVD or eBEACOPDac. In the second part of the study (efficacy and toxicity analysis), dacarbazine substitution did not appear to compromise efficacy or safety. 312 patients treated with eBEACOPDac (eBEACOPDac cohort; treated 2017-22, 186 [60%] male, median follow-up 36·0 months [IQR 25·2-50·1]) had a 3-year progression-free survival of 93·3% (95% CI 90·3-96·4), which was similar to the 93·3% [95% CI 92·1-94·4]) progression-free survival seen in 1945 patients in the German HD18 eBEACOPP trial (treated 2008-14, 1183 [61%] male, median follow-up 57·0 months [35·4-64·7]). Patients treated with eBEACOPDac required fewer blood transfusions (mean 1·70 units [SD 2·77] vs 3·69 units [3·89]; p<0·0001), demonstrated higher post-chemotherapy sperm concentrations (median 23·4 million per mL [IQR 11·0-632·3] vs 0·0 million per mL [0·0-0·001]; p=0·0040), and had earlier resumption of menstrual periods (mean 5·04 months [SD 3·07] vs 8·77 months [5·57]; p=0·0036) compared with 73 patients treated with eBEACOPP in the UK real-world dataset.

INTERPRETATION

Procarbazine induces a higher mutation burden and novel mutational signatures in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma treated with eBEACOPP and their germline DNA, raising concerns for the genomic health of survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma and hereditary consequences for their offspring. However, replacing procarbazine with dacarbazine appears to mitigate gonadal and stem-cell toxicity while maintaining similar clinical efficacy.

FUNDING

Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust and Wellcome Trust.

The Role of Radiotherapy in Hematologic Malignancies in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

Hematologic cancers in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult populations include a diverse spectrum of malignancies. The cornerstone of treatment is multiagent chemotherapy. While radiation therapy (RT) is highly effective and played a pivotal role historically, its use has evolved. In classic HL, advancements in systemic therapy have allowed for reduced RT volumes and doses and careful patient selection. Similarly, NLPHL management has shifted toward observation after complete resection, or limited chemotherapy after incomplete resection with RT used only for partially responding disease sites. In primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, the role of RT is an area of active study, and treatment with chemotherapy alone has shown promise in adults. Frontline treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma relies on chemotherapy; evidence do not support a role for consolidative RT. In leukemia, the use of prophylactic cranial and testicular RT is declining in the setting of modern chemotherapy regimens. RT may play an important role in the salvage of relapsed/refractory lymphomas and leukemias. In addition, palliative RT is often integral to symptom relief and function preservation. Future research aims to refine risk stratification, personalize treatment approaches, and incorporate novel therapies to maintain or improve oncologic outcomes while mitigating late effects.

Impacts of cancer therapy on male fertility: Past and present

Over the past two decades, advances in cancer therapy have significantly improved survival rates, particularly in childhood cancers. Still, many treatments pose a substantial risk for diminishing future fertility potential due to the gonadotoxic nature of many cancer regimens, justifying fertility preservation programs for both childhood and adult cancer patients. To assure a balance between offering fertility preservation and actual chance of infertility post-treatment, guidelines are in place. However, assessing the actual risk of infertility after treatment remains challenging, given the multi-faceted approach of many cancer treatment plans, which are continuously evolving. This review discusses the evolution of cancer therapy over the past 20 years and attempts to assess their impact on fertility after treatment. Overall, cancer regimens have shifted from broadly killing fast dividing cells to more targeting therapies, reducing collateral damage in general. Although progress has been made to reduce overall toxicity, unfortunately this does not automatically translate to reduced gonadotoxicity. Therefore, current fertility preservation programs continue to be an important part of cancer care.

Semen analysis and reproductive hormones in boys with classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol

STUDY QUESTION

What is the impact of the EuroNet-PHL-C2 treatment for boys with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) on semen parameters?

SUMMARY ANSWER

More than half of the patients (52%, n = 16/31) had oligozoospermia or azoospermia at 2 years from cHL diagnosis; particularly boys treated for advanced-stage cHL had low sperm counts and motility.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the inguinal region or testes can impair spermatogenesis and result in reduced fertility. The EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial aims to minimize radiotherapy in standard childhood cHL treatment, by intensifying chemotherapy. The present study aims to assess the (gonadotoxic) impact of this treatment protocol on semen parameters and reproductive hormones in boys aged ≤18 years.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This international, prospective, multi-centre cohort study was an add-on study to the randomized phase-3 EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial, where the efficacy of standard cHL treatment with OEPA-COPDAC-28 (OEPA: vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and doxorubicin; COPDAC-28: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and dacarbazine) was compared to intensified OEPA-DECOPDAC-21 chemotherapy (DECOPDAC-21: COPDAC with additional doxorubicin and etoposide and 25% more cyclophosphamide). Patients were recruited between January 2017 and September 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Eligibility criteria included male patients, diagnosed with classical HL before or at the age of 18 years, and treated according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol in any of the 18 participating sites in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Austria. Sperm parameters (sperm concentration, progressive motility, sperm volume, and calculated total motile sperm count) were assessed at diagnosis and 2 years after diagnosis in (post)pubertal boys. Laboratory measurements (serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B) were performed in samples drawn at diagnosis, during treatment (2-3 times), and at 2 years post-diagnosis, and (age-adjusted) analyses were conducted separately for pre-pubertal and (post)pubertal boys. Outcomes were compared between the treatment levels (TL1, TL2, and TL3) and consolidation treatment schemes (COPDAC-28 and DECOPDAC-21).

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

In total, 101 boys were included in the present analysis: 73 were (post)pubertal (median age 15.4 years, (IQR 14.4; 16.6), 10 TL1, 29 TL2, 34 TL3, 62% of TL2/3 patients received COPDAC-28) and 28 boys were pre-pubertal (median age 9.6 years (IQR 6.6; 11.4), 4 TL1, 7 TL2, 17 TL3, 38% of TL2/3 patients received COPDAC-28). The study included six boys who had received pelvic radiotherapy; none were irradiated in the inguinal or testicular area. At diagnosis, 48 (post)pubertal boys delivered semen for cryopreservation; 19 (40%) semen samples were oligospermic and 4 (8%) were azoospermic. Low sperm concentration (<15 mil/ml) appeared to be related to the HL disease itself, with a higher prevalence in boys who presented with B symptoms (76% vs 26%, aOR 2.3 (95% CI 1.0; 3.8), P = 0.001) compared to those without such symptoms. At 2 -years post-diagnosis, 31 boys provided semen samples for analysis, of whom 12 (39%) boys had oligozoospermia and 4 (13%) had azoospermia, while 22 boys (71%) had low total motile sperm counts (TMSC) (<20 mil). Specifically, the eight boys in the TL3 group treated with DECOPDAC-21 consolidation had low sperm counts and low progressive motility after 2 years (i.e. median sperm count 1.4 mil/ml (IQR <0.1; 5.3), n = 7 (88%), low sperm concentration, low median progressive motility 16.5% (IQR 0.0; 51.2), respectively). Age-adjusted serum FSH levels were significantly raised and inhibin B levels (and inhibin B:FSH ratios) were decreased during chemotherapy in (post)pubertal boys, with subsequent normalization in 80% (for FSH) and 60% (for inhibin B) of boys after 2 years. Only 4 out of the 14 (post)pubertal boys (29%) with low sperm concentrations after 2 years had elevated FSH (>7.6 IU/l), while 7 (50%) had low inhibin B levels (<100 ng/l). In pre-pubertal boys, reproductive hormones were low overall and remained relatively stable during chemotherapy.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The present analyses included sperm and laboratory measurements up to 2 years post-diagnosis. Long-term reproductive outcomes and potential recovery of spermatogenesis remain unknown, while recovery was reported up to 5- or even 10-year post-chemotherapy in previous studies.Boys who were pre-pubertal at diagnosis were still too young and/or physically not able to deliver semen after 2 years and we could not assess a potential difference in gonadotoxicity according to pubertal state at the time of treatment. Overall, the statistical power of the analyses on sperm concentration and quality after 2 years was limited.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Results of the semen analyses conducted among the 31 boys who had provided a semen sample at 2 years post-treatment were generally poor. However, additional long-term and adequately powered data are crucial to assess the potential recovery and clinical impact on fertility. The participating boys will be invited to deliver a semen sample after 5 years. Until these data become available, benefits of intensified chemotherapy in cHL treatment to reduce radiotherapy and lower risk for development of secondary tumours should be carefully weighed against potentially increased risk of other late effects, such as diminished fertility due to the increased chemotherapy burden. Boys with newly diagnosed cHL should be encouraged to deliver sperm for cryopreservation whenever possible. However, patients and clinicians should also realize that the overall state of disease and inflammatory milieu of cHL can negatively affect sperm quality and thereby reduce chance of successful fertility preservation. Furthermore, the measurement of FSH and inhibin B appears to be of low value in predicting low sperm quality at two years from cHL treatment.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was funded by the Dutch charity foundation KiKa (project 257) that funds research on all forms of childhood cancer. C.M.-K., D.K., W.H.W., D.H., MC, A.U., and A.B. were involved in the development of the EuroNet-PHL-C2 regimen. The other authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). A Narrative Review

Pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a curable disease for more than 90% of children and adolescents in high-income countries. However, similar results cannot be achieved, particularly for advanced disease, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where challenging socio-economic realities and the consequent scarcity of local resources heavily impact the treatment and patients' outcome. Information regarding the management and outcome of pediatric HL in LMICs is still limited. In this narrative review, we summarize the results reported in the literature so far and discuss the critical key points that have emerged from this overview.

Nivolumab+AVD in Advanced-Stage Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Incorporating brentuximab vedotin into the treatment of advanced-stage classic Hodgkin's lymphoma improves outcomes in adult and pediatric patients. However, brentuximab vedotin increases the toxic effects of treatment in adults, more than half of pediatric patients who receive the drug undergo consolidative radiation, and relapse remains a challenge. Programmed death 1 blockade is effective in Hodgkin's lymphoma, including in preliminary studies involving previously untreated patients.

METHODS

We conducted a phase 3, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial involving patients at least 12 years of age with stage III or IV newly diagnosed Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patients were randomly assigned to receive brentuximab vedotin with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (BV+AVD) or nivolumab with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (N+AVD). Prespecified patients could receive radiation therapy directed to residual metabolically active lesions. The primary end point was progression-free survival, defined as the time from randomization to the first observation of progressive disease or death from any cause.

RESULTS

Of 994 patients who underwent randomization, 970 were included in the intention-to-treat population for efficacy analyses. At the second planned interim analysis, with a median follow-up of 12.1 months, the threshold for efficacy was crossed, indicating that N+AVD significantly improved progression-free survival as compared with BV+AVD (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.48; 99% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.87; two-sided P = 0.001). Owing to the short follow-up time, we repeated the analysis with longer follow-up; with a median follow-up of 2.1 years (range, 0 to 4.2 years), the 2-year progression-free survival was 92% (95% CI, 89 to 94) with N+AVD, as compared with 83% (95% CI, 79 to 86) with BV+AVD (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.65). Overall, 7 patients received radiation therapy. Immune-related adverse events were infrequent with nivolumab; brentuximab vedotin was associated with more treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

N+AVD resulted in longer progression-free survival than BV+AVD in adolescents and adults with stage III or IV advanced-stage classic Hodgkin's lymphoma and had a better side-effect profile. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health and others; S1826 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03907488.).

PET/CT Response Assessment in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: Does Deauville Score 3 Reflect Negativity?

BACKGROUND

FDG PET is required for the staging and response evaluation of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of pediatric patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma based on interim PET CT assessments of early response following second-cycle chemotherapy using the Deauville score (DS). It also determines whether DS-3 is providing an adequate or inadequate response.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 504 pediatric patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma who were treated with chemotherapy based on the Euro-Net protocol at the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt from March 2019 till the end of October 2022.

RESULTS

Patients with adequate response DS 1/2 and DS 3 showed nearly the same 3-year event-free survival (EFS) of 91.9% and 91.5%, respectively, compared with those patients with inadequate response DS 4/5, who showed an EFS of 80.4% ( P =0.001). Patients with a DS 3 at interim PET evaluation were considered negative as DS 1/2. Patients of DS 3 group who did not receive radiotherapy had a much worse 3-year EFS by the existence of positive B symptoms, an ESR>30, or an advanced stage. Radiation therapy did not improve the 3-year EFS in patients with an inadequate response (DS4/5) and poor prognostic characteristics. They still need more advanced treatment.

CONCLUSION

DS 1/2 and DS 3 had about the same 3-year EFS, which is better than the 3-year EFS of patients with DS 4/5. Therefore, we can classify DS 3 as having negative FDG PET CT uptake.

Clinical dilemmas in ovarian tissue cryopreservation

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is increasingly offered globally as a fertility preservation strategy for both postpubertal women and prepubertal girls, with subsequent reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortex resulting in a rapidly growing number of live births. There remains very limited evidence of efficacy from tissue stored when the patient was prepubertal or from conditions affecting the ovary directly, e.g., Turner syndrome. Although OTC is becoming a more established practice, several clinical dilemmas remain from a practical and ethical standpoint. This review discusses the challenges regarding optimal patient selection for the procedure, the use of OTC in patients with a poor prognosis, the potential of reimplantation of tissue contaminated with malignant cells, and the role of OTC in those with an intrinsic ovarian disorder.

2-deoxy-2-[18F]FDG PET Imaging for Therapy Assessment in Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas

The 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) has contributed to outcome improvement of patients with lymphoma. The use of [18F]FDG PET/CT for staging and response assessment is successfully applied both in routine clinical practice and in clinical trials. The challenges lie in enhancing the outcomes of lymphoma patients, particularly those with advanced or refractory/relapsed disease, and to minimize the long-term toxicity associated with treatments, including radiation therapy. The objective of this review article is to present contemporary data on the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT for treatment assessment of aggressive lymphomas.

Radiological follow-up of osteonecrosis lesions in children and adolescents with Hodgkin lymphoma

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a common complication of glucocorticoid-based Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treatment, but the natural evolution and prognosis of ON lesions remain poorly understood. We describe the radiological evolution of ON lesions identified in a Nordic population-based cohort of paediatric HL patients. Magnetic resonance images of suspected ON lesions were centrally reviewed to confirm ON diagnosis and grade the ON lesions according to the Niinimäki classification. The study included 202 ON lesions in 46 patients, of which 77 were joint lesions. Follow-up images were available for 146/202 lesions, with a mean follow-up time of 28 months. During follow-up, 71% of the lesions remained stable, 26% improved or resolved, and 3% progressed. A higher ON grade at diagnosis was associated with a lower likelihood of spontaneous resolution. The likelihood for resolution of ON decreased by 50% for each year of added patient age, when adjusted for sex, ON location, and symptoms. Hip ON showed less spontaneous improvement compared with other joints, and the risk for surgery was 13-fold in hip ON. Grades 3-4 joint ON has the potential to either progress or resolve, warranting follow-up in patients with severe symptoms. Research on secondary prevention should be directed at grade 3-4 joint ON.

Hodgkin lymphoma involving the extra-axial CNS: an AHOD1331, PHL-C1, and PHL-C2 report from the COG and EuroNet-PHL

ABSTRACT

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) involving the central nervous system (CNS) is exceedingly rare. Information regarding the presentation, management, treatment, and outcome of patients with CNS HL is limited to case reports or small series. We describe 45 pediatric patients with 55 extra-axial CNS lesions at diagnosis with HL from a cohort of 4995 patients enrolled on Children's Oncology Group AHOD1331 and the European Network for Pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma C1 and C2 trials, with an overall incidence of 0.9%. Up to 82.2% of patients had a single CNS lesion in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spine. In the evaluated cohort, HL did not occur within the CNS parenchyma. Lesions extended into the extra-axial CNS space from adjacent soft tissue or bone and never directly infiltrated through the dura into the brain or spinal cord. Patients with CNS involvement had a twofold greater incidence of extranodal lesions than previously reported cohorts without CNS involvement. After 2 cycles of chemotherapy, 89.1% of CNS lesions demonstrated a complete metabolic response and >75% decrease in volume. Thirteen CNS lesions (23.6%) received irradiation; none were sites of disease relapse. Relapse occurred at the site of 2 lesions involving the CNS, both of which had an adequate interim response to chemotherapy. In summary, we present, to our knowledge, the largest reported cohort of systemic HL involving the CNS at diagnosis, demonstrating that these lesions originate from surrounding tissues, extend into the extra-axial CNS space, and respond similarly to other nodal and extranodal disease. The trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02166463, #NCT00433459, and #NCT02684708.

A systematic literature review of clinical evidence and treatment burden in newly diagnosed high-risk pediatric patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma

This systematic literature review evaluated frontline treatment burden in pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients with high-risk classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) among studies originating from the United States. Data were extracted from 32 publications (screened: total, n = 3115; full-text, n = 98) representing 12 studies (randomized controlled trials [RCTs], n = 2; non-comparative, non-randomized, n = 7; observational, n = 3). High-risk disease definitions varied across studies. Five-year event-free survival (EFS)/progression-free survival (PFS) was 86%-100% and 79%-94%, and complete response rates were 35%-100% and 5%-64% for brentuximab vedotin (BV)-containing and chemotherapy-alone regimens, respectively. In identified RCTs, BV-containing compared with chemotherapy-alone regimens demonstrated significantly longer 3-year EFS/5-year PFS. Hematological and peripheral neuropathy were the most commonly reported adverse events of interest, although safety data were inconsistently reported. Few studies evaluated humanistic and no studies evaluated economic burden. Results from studies with the highest quality of evidence indicate an EFS/PFS benefit for frontline BV-containing versus chemotherapy-alone regimens for pediatric/AYA patients with high-risk cHL.

The impact of treatment for childhood classical Hodgkin lymphoma according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol on serum anti-Müllerian Hormone

STUDY QUESTION

What is the impact of the EuroNet-PHL-C2 treatment protocol for children with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) on gonadal function in girls, based on assessment of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Serum AMH levels decreased after induction chemotherapy and increased during subsequent treatment and 2 years of follow-up, with lowest levels in patients treated for advanced stage cHL.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Treatment for cHL, particularly alkylating agents and pelvic irradiation, can be gonadotoxic and result in premature reduction of primordial follicles in females. The current EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial aims to reduce the use of radiotherapy in standard childhood cHL treatment, by intensifying chemotherapy. This study aims to assess the gonadotoxic effect of the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This international, prospective, multicenter cohort study is embedded in the EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial, an European phase-3 treatment study evaluating the efficacy of standard cHL treatment with OEPA-COPDAC-28 (OEPA: vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and doxorubicin; COPDAC-28: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and dacarbazine) versus intensified OEPA-DECOPDAC-21 (DECOPDAC-21: COPDAC with additional doxorubicin and etoposide and 25% more cyclophosphamide) in a randomized setting. Participants were recruited between January 2017 and September 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Female patients aged ≤18 years, treated according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol for cHL were recruited across 18 sites in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic. All parents and patients (aged ≥12 years old) provided written informed consent. Serum AMH levels and menstrual cycle characteristics were evaluated over time (at diagnosis, one to three times during treatment and 2 up to 5 years post-diagnosis) and compared between treatment-levels (TL1, TL2, and TL3) and treatment-arms (OEPA-COPDAC-28 and OEPA-DECOPDAC-21). Serum samples obtained from patients after receiving pelvic radiotherapy were excluded from the main analyses.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

A total of 104 females, with median age at diagnosis of 15.6 years (IQR 13.7; 17.0), were included in the analysis. Ninety-nine were (post)pubertal. Eighteen girls were diagnosed with an early stage of cHL (TL1) and 86 with intermediate or advanced stage disease (50 TL2 and 36 TL3, 66% received COPDAC-28 and 34% DECOPDAC-21). Five patients received pelvic radiotherapy. Median AMH level at diagnosis was 1.7 µg/l (IQR 0.9; 2.7). After two courses of OEPA chemotherapy, AMH levels decreased substantially in all patients (98% <0.5 µg/l), followed by a significant increase during the consolidation treatment and follow-up. After 2 years, 68% of patients reached their baseline AMH value, with overall median recovery of 129% (IQR 75.0; 208.9) compared to baseline measurement. Five patients (7%) had AMH <0.5 µg/l. In patients treated for advanced stage disease, AMH levels remained significantly lower compared to early- or intermediate stage disease, with median serum AMH of 1.3 µg/l (IQR 0.8; 2.1) after 2 years. Patients who received DECOPDAC-21 consolidation had lower AMH levels during treatment than patients receiving COPDAC-28, but the difference was no longer statistically significant at 2 years post-diagnosis. Of the 35 postmenarchal girls who did not receive hormonal co-treatment, 19 (54%) experienced treatment-induced amenorrhea, two girls had persisting amenorrhea after 2 years.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The studied population comprises young girls with diagnosis of cHL often concurring with pubertal transition, during which AMH levels naturally rise. There was no control population, while the interpretation of AMH as a biomarker during childhood is complex. The state of cHL disease may affect AMH levels at diagnosis, potentially complicating assessment of AMH recovery as a comparison with baseline AMH. The current analysis included data up to 2-5 years post-diagnosis.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The current PANCARE guideline advises to use the cyclophosphamide-equivalent dose score (CED-score, as an estimation of cumulative alkylating agent exposure) with a cut-off of 6000 mg/m2 to identify females aged <25 years at high risk of infertility. All treatment-arms of the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol remain below this cut-off, and based on this guideline, girls treated for cHL should therefore be considered low-risk of infertility. However, although we observed an increase in AMH after chemotherapy, it should be noted that not all girls recovered to pre-treatment AMH levels, particularly those treated for advanced stages of cHL. It remains unclear how our measurements relate to age-specific expected AMH levels and patterns. Additional (long-term) data are needed to explore clinical reproductive outcomes of survivors treated according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

The fertility add-on study was funded by the Dutch charity foundation KiKa (project 257) that funds research on all forms of childhood cancer. C.M-K., D.K., W.H.W., D.H., M.C., A.U., and A.B. were involved in the development of the EuroNet-PHL-C2 regimen. The other authors indicated no potential conflicts of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Assessing the efficacy and tolerability of PET-guided BrECADD versus eBEACOPP in advanced-stage, classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HD21): a randomised, multicentre, parallel, open-label, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Intensified systemic chemotherapy has the highest primary cure rate for advanced-stage, classical Hodgkin lymphoma but this comes with a cost of severe and potentially life long, persisting toxicities. With the new regimen of brentuximab vedotin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dacarbazine, and dexamethasone (BrECADD), we aimed to improve the risk-to-benefit ratio of treatment of advanced-stage, classical Hodgkin lymphoma guided by PET after two cycles.

METHODS

This randomised, multicentre, parallel, open-label, phase 3 trial was done in 233 trial sites across nine countries. Eligible patients were adults (aged ≤60 years) with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage, classical Hodgkin lymphoma (ie, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, stage II with B symptoms, and either one or both risk factors of large mediastinal mass and extranodal lesions). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to four or six cycles (21-day intervals) of escalated doses of etoposide (200 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1-3), doxorubicin (35 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1), and cyclophosphamide (1250 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1), and standard doses of bleomycin (10 mg/m2 intravenously on day 8), vincristine (1·4 mg/m2 intravenously on day 8), procarbazine (100 mg/m2 orally on days 1-7), and prednisone (40 mg/m2 orally on days 1-14; eBEACOPP) or BrECADD, guided by PET after two cycles. Patients and investigators were not masked to treatment assignment. Hierarchical coprimary objectives were to show (1) improved tolerability defined by treatment-related morbidity and (2) non-inferior efficacy defined by progression-free survival with an absolute non-inferiority margin of 6 percentage points of BrECADD compared with eBEACOPP. An additional test of superiority of progression-free survival was to be done if non-inferiority had been established. Analyses were done by intention to treat; the treatment-related morbidity assessment required documentation of at least one chemotherapy cycle. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02661503).

FINDINGS

Between July 22, 2016, and Aug 27, 2020, 1500 patients were enrolled, of whom 749 were randomly assigned to BrECADD and 751 to eBEACOPP. 1482 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The median age of patients was 31 years (IQR 24-42). 838 (56%) of 1482 patients were male and 644 (44%) were female. Most patients were White (1352 [91%] of 1482). Treatment-related morbidity was significantly lower with BrECADD (312 [42%] of 738 patients) than with eBEACOPP (430 [59%] of 732 patients; relative risk 0·72 [95% CI 0·65-0·80]; p<0·0001). At a median follow-up of 48 months, BrECADD improved progression-free survival with a hazard ratio of 0·66 (0·45-0·97; p=0·035); 4-year progression-free survival estimates were 94·3% (95% CI 92·6-96·1) for BrECADD and 90·9% (88·7-93·1) for eBEACOPP. 4-year overall survival rates were 98·6% (97·7-99·5) and 98·2% (97·2-99·3), respectively.

INTERPRETATION

BrECADD guided by PET after two cycles is better tolerated and more effective than eBEACOPP in first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced-stage, classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

FUNDING

Takeda Oncology.

Alkylating agents-induced gonadotoxicity in prepubertal males: Insights on the clinical and preclinical front

Rising cure rates in pediatric cancer patients warrants an increased attention toward the long-term consequences of the diagnosis and treatment in survivors. Chemotherapeutic agents can be gonadotoxic, rendering them at risk for infertility post-survival. While semen cryopreservation is an option that can be provided for most (post)pubertal boys before treatment, this is unfortunately not an option prepubertal in age, simply due to the lack of spermatogenesis. Over the last couple of years, studies have thus focused on better understanding the testis niche in response to various chemotherapeutic agents that are commonly administered and their direct and indirect impact on the germ cell populations. These are generally compounds that have a high risk of infertility and have been classified into risk categories in curated fertility guidelines. However, with it comes the lack of evidence and the challenge of using informative models and conditions most reflective of the physiological scenario, in short, the appropriate study designs for clinically relevant outcomes. Besides, the exact mechanism(s) of action for many of these "risk" compounds as well as other agents is unclear. Understanding their behavior and effect on the testis niche will pave the way for incorporating new strategies to ultimately combat infertility. Of the various drug classes, alkylating agents pose the highest risk of gonadotoxicity as per previously established studies as well as risk stratification guidelines. Therefore, this review will summarize the findings in the field of male fertility concerning gonadotoxicity of akylating agents as a result of chemotherapy exposure.

Successful treatment of paediatric refractory Hodgkin lymphoma with immunotherapy - A case report and literature review

AIM

To describe a rare case of primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma nodular sclerosis syncytial variant in a child and review immunotherapy in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.

METHODS

We described the treatment course of a child with primary refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma and discussed different options for salvage therapy, with an emphasis on immunotherapy. We searched PubMed for all published clinical trials investigating immunotherapy in classic Hodgkin lymphoma written in English until 31 June, 2023. The reference list of each identified paper was searched for additional publications.

RESULTS

Our patient was salvaged with anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody therapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. Radiotherapy was avoided. We identified five one-armed phase II trials investigating anti-PD-1 therapy in first relapse/refractory disease in a total of 254 patients aged 9-71 years, of which one included 31 children. The complete remission rate before high-dose chemotherapy was 59%-95% overall and 67%-89% among those with refractory disease.

CONCLUSION

Although it remains to be proven in randomised trials, anti-PD-1 therapy may provide higher complete response rates than traditional chemotherapy. Anti-PD-1 therapy has the potential to increase the chance of cure while decreasing the risk of late effects from chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children: A 16-year Experience at the Children's Welfare Teaching Hospital of Baghdad, Iraq

Background

Childhood Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an eminently curable disease. Good outcomes can be achieved even in resource-limited settings, and the focus is increasingly on limiting long-term toxicity. Contemporary treatment incorporates a risk-stratified, response-adapted approach using multiagent chemotherapy with/without low-dose radiotherapy. Many developing countries continue to use ABVD-based regimens due to limited acute toxicity, cost, and ease of delivery.

Objective

We herein report the outcomes of childhood HL diagnosed and treated in an Iraqi single centre over 16 years.

Methods

Children ≤14 years old with biopsy-proven HL were enrolled. Most patients received ABVD chemotherapy or COPP/ABV when Dacarbazine was unavailable. Radiotherapy was not available.

Results

Three hundred-three children were consecutively newly diagnosed with HL; 284 were considered eligible for the retrospective analysis (treatment refusals 9; deaths before therapy 5; initially diagnosed of non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5). ABVD scheme was administered to 184 children (65%), COPP/ABV to 83 (29%), and other schemes to the remaining 17 patients. Complete response (CR) was achieved in 277 (98%); 4 (1.4%) showed disease progression, and 1 had stable disease. Four patients in CR abandoned therapy and were in CR at the time of analysis, 2 died from infection. Relapse occurred in 42 patients (15%). The 15-year OS and EFS are 89.7% and 70.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

In this single Centre, over 16 years, almost 90% of children suffering from HL survive, despite the numerous limitations in diagnostic procedures, shortage of chemotherapy, no radiotherapy facilities, absence of effective second-line treatments, and finally, therapy abandonment for social and financial reasons.

Hodgkin lymphoma: hypodense lesions in mediastinal masses

Hypodense volumes (HDV) in mediastinal masses can be visualized in a computed tomography scan in Hodgkin lymphoma. We analyzed staging CT scans of 1178 patients with mediastinal involvement from the EuroNet-PHL-C1 trial and explored correlations of HDV with patient characteristics, mediastinal tumor volume and progression-free survival. HDV occurred in 350 of 1178 patients (29.7%), typically in larger mediastinal volumes. There were different patterns in appearance with single lesions found in 243 patients (69.4%), multiple lesions in 107 patients (30.6%). Well delineated lesions were found in 248 cases (70.1%), diffuse lesions were seen in 102 cases (29.1%). Clinically, B symptoms occurred more often in patients with HDV (47.7% compared to 35.0% without HDV (p = 0.039)) and patients with HDV tended to be in higher risk groups. Inadequate overall early-18F-FDG-PET-response was strongly correlated with the occurrence of hypodense lesions (p < 0.001). Patients with total HDV > 40 ml (n = 80) had a 5 year PFS of 79.6% compared to 89.7% (p = 0.01) in patients with HDV < 40 ml or no HDV. This difference in PFS is not caused by treatment group alone. HDV is a common phenomenon in HL with mediastinal involvement.

Pediatric and Adolescent Hodgkin Lymphoma: Paving the Way for Standards of Care and Shared Decision Making

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a treatable cancer with an incidence peak in adolescent and young adult years. Treatment strategies have been developed to balance the intensity of therapy needed to maintain disease-free survival while simultaneously preserving overall survival. Risk-based, response-adapted frontline therapy has long used a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT). Successive clinical trials over the past three decades have safely reduced cumulative alkylator, anthracycline, and RT exposures for many patients. The advent of checkpoint inhibitors and the CD30-targeted antibody drug conjugate, brentuximab vedotin, has provided new options for de-escalation of conventional therapies associated with late effects in survivors treated at a young age. The ability to evaluate novel agents has been accelerated in collaborative trials inclusive of children and adolescents within the US National Clinical Trials Network and between the Children's Oncology Group and the EuroNet Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma Consortium. With numerous treatment options, patients with HL and their clinicians have an opportunity for shared decision making from diagnosis, through cancer treatment, and into survivorship. Given excellent survival outcomes, decisions about treatment in classic HL should be collaborative and attention to long-term survivorship needs should remain a high priority. Patient-reported outcomes remain an important tool to aid clinicians working with survivors to optimize health status and related quality of life for decades after HL therapy.

Fertility-Preserving Treatments and Patient- and Parental Satisfaction on Fertility Counseling in a Cohort of Newly Diagnosed Boys and Girls with Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of fertility-preserving (FP) treatments and fertility counseling that was offered in a cohort of newly diagnosed children with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).

METHODS

In this observational study, boys and girls with cHL aged ≤ 18 years with scheduled treatment according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol were recruited from 18 sites (5 countries), between January 2017 and September 2021. In 2023, a subset of Dutch participants (aged ≥ 12 years at time of diagnosis) and parents/guardians were surveyed regarding fertility counseling.

RESULTS

A total of 101 boys and 104 girls were included. Most post-pubertal boys opted for semen cryopreservation pre-treatment (85% of expected). Invasive FP treatments were occasionally chosen for patients at a relatively low risk of fertility based on scheduled alkylating agent exposure (4/5 testicular biopsy, 4/4 oocyte, and 11/11 ovarian tissue cryopreservation). A total of 17 post-menarchal girls (20%) received GnRH-analogue co-treatment. Furthermore, 33/84 parents and 26/63 patients responded to the questionnaire. Most reported receiving fertility counseling (97%/89%). Statements regarding the timing and content of counseling were generally positive. Parents and patients considered fertility counseling important (94%/87% (strongly agreed) and most expressed concerns about (their child's) fertility (at diagnosis 69%/46%, at present: 59%/42%).

CONCLUSION

Systematic fertility counseling is crucial for all pediatric cHL patients and their families. FP treatment should be considered depending on the anticipated risk and patient factors. We encourage the development of a decision aid for FP in pediatric oncology.

Distribution and predictors of F-18-FDG uptake values of non-malignant cervical lymph nodes in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

F-18-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT is routinely used for staging, evaluation of response to treatment and follow-up of most pediatric malignancies. Cervical lymph nodes can be involved in some pediatric malignancies, but increased uptake in non-malignant cervical lymph nodes is not exceptional in this population. The aim of the present study is to identify predictors of the maximum uptake in non-malignant cervical lymph nodes in the pediatric population.

METHODS

191 FDG PET/CT studies of pediatric patients without malignant involvement of cervical lymph nodes were retrospectively reviewed. The maximal Standard Uptake Value in the hottest cervical lymph node (SUVmaxCLN), as well as demographic, technical and imaging variables were recorded. The predictive effect of those variables on SUVmaxCLN was estimated using linear regression models.

RESULTS

Increased FDG activity in cervical nodes was observed in 136/191 studies (71%). The mean SUVmaxCLN was 2.2 ± 1.3. Ipsilateral palatine tonsil SUVmax, mean liver uptake, and treatment status were all statistically significant predictors of SUVmaxCLN. However, in multivariate regression analysis, only ipsilateral palatine tonsil SUVmax was found to be significant. In addition, SUVmaxCLN was greater than the mean liver uptake in 50% of all studies. This proportion was higher in younger children, reaching 77% of studies of children younger than six years.

CONCLUSION

SUVmax in ipsilateral palatine tonsil is a strong predictor of the maximal uptake value of non-malignant cervical lymph nodes in children. The intensity of uptake in non-malignant cervical lymph nodes is frequently higher than liver uptake in children, and this tendency increases for younger patients.

TRIAL WAS REGISTERED

In the internal hospital registry under TRN 0209-22-HMO on date 23.04.2022.

The pediatric approach to Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) occurs throughout the lifespan but is one of the most common cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYA; 15-39 years). HL has become a highly curable disease with survival rates surpassing 90%, including patients with high-risk and advanced stage disease. Unfortunately, intensive treatment carries a risk of short- and long-term toxicity. Given the decades pediatric HL survivors are expected to live after treatment, the pediatric approach to treatment has focused on improving the therapeutic index through response adapted treatment and more recently the incorporation of novel agents. The efforts of pediatric and medical oncologists in research and clinical trial development have long occurred in parallel, but recent efforts have laid the foundation for collaboration with the goal of standardizing AYA care and allowing earlier incorporation of novel therapy for younger patients. This review focuses on the evolution of the management of pediatric HL including epidemiology, biology, and approaches to upfront and salvage treatment regimens.

Pulmonary lesions in early response assessment in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: prevalence and possible implications for initial staging

BACKGROUND

Disseminated pulmonary involvement in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (pHL) is indicative of Ann Arbor stage IV disease. During staging, it is necessary to assess for coexistence of non-malignant lung lesions due to infection representing background noise to avoid erroneously upstaging with therapy intensification.

OBJECTIVE

This study attempts to describe new lung lesions detected on interim staging computed tomography (CT) scans after two cycles of vincristine, etoposide, prednisolone, doxorubicin in a prospective clinical trial. Based on the hypothesis that these new lung lesions are not part of the underlying malignancy but are epiphenomena, the aim is to analyze their size, number, and pattern to help distinguish true lung metastases from benign lung lesions on initial staging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the EuroNet-PHL-C1 trial re-evaluated the staging and interim lung CT scans of 1,300 pediatric patients with HL. Newly developed lung lesions during chemotherapy were classified according to the current Fleischner glossary of terms for thoracic imaging. Patients with new lung lesions found at early response assessment (ERA) were additionally assessed and compared to response seen in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Of 1,300 patients at ERA, 119 (9.2%) had new pulmonary lesions not originally detectable at diagnosis. The phenomenon occurred regardless of initial lung involvement or whether a patient relapsed. In the latter group, new lung lesions on ERA regressed by the time of relapse staging. New lung lesions on ERA in patients without relapse were detected in 102 (7.8%) patients. Pulmonary nodules were recorded in 72 (5.5%) patients, the majority (97%) being<10 mm. Consolidations, ground-glass opacities, and parenchymal bands were less common.

CONCLUSION

New nodules on interim staging are common, mostly measure less than 10 mm in diameter and usually require no further action because they are most likely non-malignant. Since it must be assumed that benign and malignant lung lesions coexist on initial staging, this benign background noise needs to be distinguished from lung metastases to avoid upstaging to stage IV disease. Raising the cut-off size for lung nodules to ≥ 10 mm might achieve the reduction of overtreatment but needs to be further evaluated with survival data. In contrast to the staging criteria of EuroNet-PHL-C1 and C2, our data suggest that the number of lesions present at initial staging may be less important.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease developed during chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report

BACKGROUND

Ocular manifestations are known for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but are rare for Hodgkin lymphoma. We report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease presenting as serous retinal detachment and uveitis in both eyes in a child undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 7-year-old boy with stage IIB Hodgkin lymphoma (nodular lymphocyte predominant type) who was undergoing chemotherapy, including 2 cycles of the OEPA regimen and 1 cycle of the COPDAC regimen. Two days after the end of the COPDAC regimen, the patient complained of headache and of blurred and decreased vision in both eyes. On the basis of optic symptoms, such as uveitis and serous retinal detachment in both eyes, increased cell counts in cerebrospinal fluid, and positivity for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR4 in peripheral blood cells, incomplete VKH disease was diagnosed. Intravenous treatment with high-dose prednisolone (60mg/m2/day) for 7 days improved both visual acuity and serous retinal detachment and enabled the remains of the COPDAC chemotherapy cycle to be administered. With prednisolone treatment, visual acuity improved from 20/500 to 20/20 in the right eye and from 20/63 to 20/25 in the left eye. Because multiple vitiligo lesions later appeared in the abdomen, complete VKH disease was finally diagnosed.

CONCLUSION

The onset of VKH disease occurred during chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient was HLA-DR4-positive and might have had a predisposition to develop autoimmune diseases, including VKH disease. However, the anticancer drugs administered to this patient have not been reported to cause uveitis. Whether Hodgkin lymphoma triggered the development of VKH remains unclear. Early diagnosis of VKH disease and prompt treatment with high-dose prednisone enabled the patient to maintain good visual function despite chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Update on FDG-PET in pediatric lymphoma

Lymphoma represent the third most common malignant disease in childhood and adolescence. They are divided into pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (P-HL) and pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (P-NHL). In P-HL, excellent cure rates are achieved through combined modality treatment using chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For more than 20 years, FDG-PET has been an integral part of the treatment and guides its intensity through improved staging and precise assessment of chemotherapy response. In P-NHL, good cure rates are achieved with chemotherapy alone. At present FDG-PET plays only a subordinate role in the treatment setting. Its potential to contribute to treatment management is far from being fully utilised. In this article, the current status of FDG-PET in pediatric lymphoma is presented in detail. The core elements are the sections on staging and response assessment. In addition, challenges and pitfalls are discussed and future developments are outlined.

Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma in Adolescents and Young Adults

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) represents one of the more common cancers occurring in adolescent and young adults (AYAs) age 15-39 years. Despite a generally high cure rate, age-related differences in HL biology and the optimal therapeutic approaches including supportive care and risks for long-term adverse effects in the AYA population remain understudied. After an overview of HL epidemiology and biology in the AYA population, this review will cover frontline pediatric and adult treatment approaches. Recently completed and ongoing studies will foster harmonization of risk group definition and trial eligibility criteria across the AYA spectrum, enabling more rapid progress. In addition to treatment approaches, an evolving holistic care approach to AYA HL will result in enhanced understanding of unique challenges, and continued improved short- and long-term outcome for these patients.

Radiotherapy management of paediatric cancers with synchronous metastasis

Cancer in childhood represent 1% of all the new diagnosed cancers. About 30% of children with cancer receive radiation therapy, representing about 600 to 700 patients per year in France. As a consequence, paediatric cancers with synchronous metastasis is a very rare situation in oncology, with usually poor standard of care. However, considerable efforts are made by paediatric oncology scientific societies to offer trials or treatment consensus despite these rare situations. The article proposes to synthesize the radiotherapy management of both primary tumour and synchronous metastasis in the most "common" childhood or adolescent cancers.

[A 2023 inventory in oncology news]

In 2023, the improvement of our therapeutic management has largely taken shape. The aim of our article is to highlight the major advances that will change our practices. These are not only in the field of treatment, but also in the improvement of supportive care. Here, we present these new developments organ by organ, cancer by cancer. You can read everything or concentrate on the cancers that are your areas of expertise. But this exhaustiveness should be representative of our current state of progress.

Prevention of activated brown adipose tissue on 18F-FDG-PET scans of young lymphoma patients: results of an ancillary study within the EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial

Activated brown fat (aBAT) is known to affect the evaluation of 18F-FDG PET scans, especially in young patients. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing the occurrence of aBAT, and to investigate the effectiveness of the two preventive measures, warming and beta-blocker (propranolol) administration. Five-hundred-twenty-eight 18F-FDG-PET scans of 241 EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial patients from 41 nuclear medicine departments in Germany and Czech Republic were screened for aBAT. The occurrence of aBAT was analyzed with patient characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, predisposition to aBAT), weather data at the day of 18F-FDG PET scanning as well as the preventive measures taken. Potentially important factors from univariate analyses were included into a logistic regression model. Warming as a preventive measure was used in 243 18F-FDG-PET scans, propranolol was administered in 36, warming and propranolol were combined in 84, and no preventive measures were taken in 165 scans. Whereas age, sex and body mass index had no clear impact, there was an individual predisposition to aBAT. Logistic regression model revealed that the frequency of aBAT mainly depends on the outside temperature (p = 0.005) and can be effectively reduced by warming (p = 0.004), the administration of unselective beta-blocker or the combination of both. Warming is a simple, cheap and non-invasive method to reduce the frequency of aBAT. However, the effect of warming decreases with increasing outside temperatures. Administration of propranolol seems to be equally effective and provides advantages whenever the positive effect of warming is compromised. The combination of both preventive measures could have an additive effect.

Innovations in Cancer Treatment of Children

Pediatric cancer outcomes have significantly improved, and yet this success is not spread equally across cancer types or patients. Disparities data in pediatric oncology highlight needed improvements in access to care, including clinical trials and advanced testing for all patients. For cancers such as brain tumors and sarcomas, continued advancement in understanding the biology of tumor heterogeneity is an essential step toward finding new therapeutic combinations to improve outcomes. Pediatric cancer survivors need access to emerging technologies aimed at reducing or better managing toxicities from therapy. With advances in treatment and survival, pediatric oncology patients continue to need longitudinal, multidisciplinary subspecialty care. Refining the communication between pediatric oncologists, primary pediatricians, survivorship clinics, and adult primary care is key in ensuring the best lifelong care of pediatric cancer survivors. In this State-of-The-Art review, we discuss 5 major domains in pediatric oncology: reducing toxicity, cancer biology, novel therapies, detection and monitoring, and access to care, to highlight recent advances and areas for continued improvement.

[Characteristics of radiotherapy for adolescents and young adults]

Radiotherapy for adolescents and young adults is complex in several aspects. The population is very heterogeneous and has characteristics derived from both paediatric and adult populations both in terms of pathology (anatomical pathology, response to treatment) and the patient's physical, biological and psychological characteristics. This article reviews the characteristics to be taken into account in adolescent and young adult patients radiotherapy and more particularly in some of the most common diseases.

Deep-learning based classification of a tumor marker for prognosis on Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE

Hodgkin's disease is a common malignant disorder in adolescent patients. Although most patients are cured, approximately 10%-15% of patients experience a relapse or have resistant disease. Furthermore, there are no definitive molecular predictors for early identification of patients at high risk of treatment failure to first line therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the deep learning-based classifier model of medical image classification to predict clinical outcome that may help in appropriate therapeutic decisions.

METHODS

Eighty-three FFPE biopsy specimens from patients with Hodgkin's disease were stratified according to the patient's qPET scores, stained with picrosirius red dye and digitalized by whole slide image scanning. The resulting whole slide images were cut into tiles and annotated by two classes based on the collagen fibers' degree of coloring with picrosirius red. The neural network (YOLOv4) was then trained with the annotated data. Training was performed with 30 cases. Prognostic power of the weakly stained picrosirius red fibers was evaluated with 53 cases. The same neural network was trained with MMP9 stained tissue slides from the same cases and the quantification results were compared with the variant from the picrosirius red cases.

RESULTS

There was a weak monotonically increasing relationship by parametric ANOVA between the qPET groups and the percentages of weakly stained fibers (p = .0185). The qPET-positive cases showed an average of 18% of weakly stained fibers, and the qPET-negative cases 10%-14%. Detection performance showed an AUC of 0.79.

CONCLUSIONS

Picrosirius red shows distinct associations as a prognostic metric candidate of disease progression in Hodgkin's disease cases using whole slide images but not sufficiently as a prognostic device.

Clinical and self-reported markers of reproductive function in female survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on clinical reproductive markers and pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

This study was embedded within the DCOG LATER-VEVO study; a Dutch, multicenter, retrospective cohort study between 2004 and 2014. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B, antral follicle count (AFC), and self-reported (first) pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in female childhood HL survivors and controls.

RESULTS

84 HL survivors and 798 controls were included, aged 29.6 and 32.7 years old at time of assessment. Median age at HL diagnosis was 13.4 years. Cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED-score) exceeded 6000 mg/m2 in 56 women and 14 survivors received pelvic irradiation. All clinical markers were significantly deteriorated in survivors (odds-ratio for low AMH (< p10) 10.1 [95% CI 4.9; 20.6]; low AFC (< p10) 4.6 [95% CI 2.1; 9.9]; elevated FSH (> 10 IU/l) 15.3 [95% CI 5.7; 41.1], low Inhibin B (< 20 ng/l) 3.6 [ 95% CI 1.7; 7.7], p < 0.001). Pregnancy outcomes were comparable between survivors and controls (± 80% live birth, ± 20% miscarriage). However, survivors were significantly younger at first pregnancy (27.0 years vs 29.0 years, P = 0.04). Adjusted odds-ratio for time to pregnancy > 12 months was 2.5 [95% CI 1.1; 5.6] in survivors, p = 0.031. Adverse outcomes were specifically present after treatment with procarbazine and higher CED-score.

CONCLUSION

HL survivors appear to have an impaired ovarian reserve. However, chance to achieve pregnancy seems reassuring at a young age. Additional follow-up studies are needed to assess fertile life span and reproductive potential of HL survivors, in particular for current HL treatments that are hypothesized to be less gonadotoxic.

Significance of E-lesions in Hodgkin lymphoma and the creation of a new consensus definition: a report from SEARCH

The International Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization for Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL) seeks to provide an appropriate, universal differentiation between E-lesions and stage IV extranodal disease in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). A literature search was performed through the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the terms "Hodgkin disease," and "extranodal," "extralymphatic," "E lesions," "E stage," or "E disease." Publications were reviewed for the number of participants; median age and age range; diagnostic modalities used for staging; and the definition, incidence, and prognostic significance of E-lesions. Thirty-six articles describing 12 640 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most articles reported staging per the Ann Arbor (72%, 26/36) or Cotswolds modification of the Ann Arbor staging criteria (25%, 9/36), and articles rarely defined E-lesions or disambiguated "extranodal disease." The overall incidence of E-lesions for patients with stage I-III HL was 11.5% (1330/11 602 unique patients). Available stage-specific incidence analysis of 3888 patients showed a similar incidence of E-lesions in stage II (21.2%) and stage III (21.9%), with E-lesions rarely seen with stage I disease (1.1%). E-lesions likely remain predictive, but we cannot unequivocally conclude that identifying E-lesions in HL imparts prognostic value in the modern era of the more selective use of targeted radiation therapy. A harmonized E-lesion definition was reached based on the available evidence and the consensus of the SEARCH working group. We recommend that this definition of E-lesion be applied in future clinical trials with explicit reporting to confirm the prognostic value of E-lesions.

Intracranial disease in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma-case report and review of literature

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an extremely rare presentation with dismal outcomes according to reported literature. An 8-year-old girl presented to us with complaints of on-off fever, right cervical swelling and bilateral ptosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) showed intracranial extra-axial soft tissue masses in right infero-lateral temporal lobe, sella and bilateral parasellar region along with cervical, mediastinal, axillary, abdominal and inguino-pelvic nodes, liver lesions and extensive marrow lesions involving the axial and appendicular skeleton. Histopathology of the cervical lymph node revealed a diagnosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Child received 2 cycles of OEPA and 4 cycles of COPP followed by radiotherapy to bulky cervical lymph nodes and intracranial lesion. The child has been disease-free for 44 months with no neurological sequalae. Intracranial spread is rare in Hodgkin lymphoma and is associated with inferior outcomes. Due to its rarity, there are no specific treatment guidelines for this entity. The choice of ideal chemotherapeutic agents and role of whole-brain radiotherapy needs further evaluation.

Radiation Therapy Use in Refractory and Relapsed Adolescent and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group

Purpose:

Clear indications do not exist for consolidative radiotherapy (CRT) in relapsed and refractory pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (rrpHL). Increasing numbers of rrpHL patients are radiation naïve, as response-adapted front-line therapies omit CRT for favorable responses. We evaluated practice patterns among treating oncologists for rrpHL.

Methods and Materials:

A survey developed by pediatric and radiation oncologists was distributed to Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Hodgkin Lymphoma Committee members during the Fall 2021 COG meeting. Questions ascertained respondent specialty and annual rrpHL patient volumes. Respondents provided treatment recommendations for two cases. Case 1: 21-year-old female with stage IIB bulky mediastinal HL treated with ABVDx6 without initial radiotherapy with neck and mediastinal relapse and Deauville 4 (D4) response after 2 second-line chemotherapies. Case 1 was modified (modCase1) to a D2 response after second-line therapy. Case 2: 21-year-old female with non-bulky stage IIB disease treated with ABVDx6 without initial radiotherapy with splenic, mediastinal, and neck relapse and D4 activity in those sites after 2 second-line therapies. Descriptive statistics are presented.

Results:

20 (83%) pediatric hematologist/oncologists and 4 (17%) radiation oncologists completed the survey. After autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for Case 1, 58% recommended CRT followed by brentuximab vedotin (Bv) maintenance and 33% recommended involved-site radiotherapy (ISRT) alone. For modCase1, 63% would consider CRT instead of ASCT. With ASCT, 21% would recommend CRT to bulk and 38% to all sites at initial relapse. After ASCT for Case 2, 75% recommended ISRT followed by Bv and 17% ISRT alone.

Conclusions:

In a sample of predominantly pediatric-oncologist COG members, most respondents considered that CRT has a role for patients with radiation-naive rrpHL both for groups with D4 disease as well as D2 disease pre-ASCT.

Improving quality and quantity of life for childhood cancer survivors globally in the twenty-first century

The contributions of cooperative groups to performing large-cohort clinical trials and long-term survivorship studies have facilitated advances in treatment, supportive care and, ultimately, survival for patients with paediatric cancers. As a result, the number of childhood cancer survivors in the USA alone is expected to reach almost 580,000 by 2040. Despite these substantial improvements, childhood cancer survivors continue to have an elevated burden of chronic disease and an excess risk of early death compared with the general population and therefore constitute a large, medically vulnerable population for which delivery of high-quality, personalized care is much needed. Data from large survivorship cohorts have enabled the identification of compelling associations between paediatric cancers, cancer therapy and long-term health conditions. Effectively translating these findings into clinical care that improves the quality and quantity of life for survivors remains an important focus of ongoing research. Continued development of well-designed clinical studies incorporating dissemination and implementation strategies with input from patient advocates and other key stakeholders is crucial to overcoming these gaps. This Review highlights the global progress made and future efforts that will be needed to further increase the quality and quantity of life-years gained for childhood cancer survivors.

Differentiation between rebound thymic hyperplasia and thymic relapse after chemotherapy in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Rebound thymic hyperplasia (RTH) is a common phenomenon caused by stress factors such as chemotherapy (CTX) or radiotherapy, with an incidence between 44% and 67.7% in pediatric lymphoma. Misinterpretation of RTH and thymic lymphoma relapse (LR) may lead to unnecessary diagnostic procedures including invasive biopsies or treatment intensification. The aim of this study was to identify parameters that differentiate between RTH and thymic LR in the anterior mediastinum.

METHODS

After completion of CTX, we analyzed computed tomographies (CTs) and magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 291 patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) and adequate imaging available from the European Network for Pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma C1 trial. In all patients with biopsy-proven LR, an additional fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)-CT was assessed. Structure and morphologic configuration in addition to calcifications and presence of multiple masses in the thymic region and signs of extrathymic LR were evaluated.

RESULTS

After CTX, a significant volume increase of new or growing masses in the thymic space occurred in 133 of 291 patients. Without biopsy, only 98 patients could be identified as RTH or LR. No single finding related to thymic regrowth allowed differentiation between RTH and LR. However, the vast majority of cases with thymic LR presented with additional increasing tumor masses (33/34). All RTH patients (64/64) presented with isolated thymic growth.

CONCLUSION

Isolated thymic LR is very uncommon. CHL relapse should be suspected when increasing tumor masses are present in distant sites outside of the thymic area. Conversely, if regrowth of lymphoma in other sites can be excluded, isolated thymic mass after CTX likely represents RTH.

Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children and Adolescents of Northern Greece: 25-Year Results and Long-term Follow-up

Aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term therapeutic outcome and treatment-related complications in Hodgkin disease. We reviewed the medical records of 93 patients diagnosed with classic Hodgkin lymphoma, treated, and followed-up during the last 25 years. The cohort study included 49 males and 44 females with median age 11.8 years old (range: 3.95 to 17.42 y). The most common subtype was nodular sclerosis in 47/93 (50.5%). B symptoms were present in 15/93 (16.1%). From January 2009 until December 2020, 55 (59%) patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma were treated according to European Network for Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma (EURONET)-PHL-C1 protocol. Concerning outcome, a total of 89/93 patients are alive. Relapse occurred in 7/93. Second malignancies are reported in a total of 5 patients, 3 solid tumors (thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and osteosarcoma), and 2 acute myeloid leukemias. The overall survival and event-free survival for the whole cohort were 95.7% and 83.9%, respectively. Disease-free survival was 92.5%. Although a considerable high fraction of patients with Hodgkin disease can achieve continuous complete remission, they are at a high risk of developing long-term treatment-related complications. High curative rates as well as prevention of late effects can be achieved by implementation of individualized treatment strategies and innovative treatments.