High international prognostic score predicts a worse outcome for patients with Hodgkin's disease and HIV infection: results of a prospective study with Stanford V regimen

Human immunodeficiency and Hodgkin lymphoma

Presentation of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is distinctive in the infected individual being more advanced, accompanied by B symptoms and the presence of extranodal disease particularly lymphadenopathy of the head and neck. Bone marrow involvement may be found in over 50% of cases. Virtually all co express gamma-herpesvirus. Phenotypically there is prominence of the mixed-cellularity and lymphocyte depleted histopathologic subtypes that define an aggressive clinical course in comparison to other variants. Prior to the induction of cART, median survival was only 1-2 years. Notably the first chemotherapy trial using ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) in 21 patients, without treating the viral infection, resulted in a 43% complete remission rate accompanied by severe haematological toxicities but did not extend median survival with this being 1.5 years matching the negative cases. Significant change accompanied concomitant anti-retroviral therapy that could be given safely even with dose intensive regimens exemplified by BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) in 12 patients or the Stanford V regimen (doxorubicin, vinblastine, mechlorethamine, etoposide, vincristine, bleomycin, prednisone) coupled with involved-field radiation for bulky disease studied in 59 patients. BEACOPP extended overall survival (OS) to 83% at 2 years. A similar trend was seen when using the Stanford V regimen with an OS rate of 51% at 3 years, disease-free survival (DFS) of 68% and freedom from progression (FFP) in 60%. Additional benefits accrued from supportive care with stimulatory peptides such as G-CSF and when combined with bacterial prophylaxis results approached that found in the uninfected reference group. Current consensus holds this particular lymphoma as still among the non-AIDS defining cancers being lung, stomach, liver or anal despite these having recently gained more attention as several of these neoplasms may be occurring more commonly in the era of cART. While the relative risk of developing a non-AIDS-defining neoplasm in HIV-infected persons on the average is 2-3 times, the risk for developing HL in HIV-infected cases impressively ranges between 5 and 25 times when compared to the general population. Based on the precedent in which Kaposi sarcoma and the non-Hodgkin lymphomas distinctively alter the course of this retroviral infection in a way indistinguishable from concurrent Hodgkin lymphoma we propose that this entity be similarly regarded and the hypothesis tested in large randomised prospective study.

Characteristics and outcome of AIDS-related Hodgkin lymphoma before and after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed survival, therapeutic response, and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated or not with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

METHODS

This study included 104 patients with HL, treated (n = 83) or not (n = 21) with HAART. Outcomes and prognostic factors of complete remission (CR), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed by an intention-to-treat analysis of all patients who received at least 1 chemotherapy course.

RESULTS

No differences were found between groups at baseline in the specific characteristics of HIV and HL. The proportion of patients receiving appropriate-for-stage therapy for HL was similar for both groups. The CR rates in the HAART (-) and HAART (+) groups were 14 (70%) of 20 versus 71 (91%) of 78 (P = 0.023). The median OS in the HAART (-) group was 39 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0 to 89) and was not reached in the HAART (+) group (P = 0.0089). The median DFS in the HAART (-) group was 85 months (95% CI: 73 to 97) and was not reached in the HAART (+) group (P = 0.129). Factors independently associated with CR by logistic regression analysis were appropriate-for-stage therapy of HL, HAART, and baseline CD4 count > or =100 cells/microL. CR was the only factor independently associated with OS by Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The achievement of CR was independently associated with appropriate-for-stage therapy for HL, with HAART, and with a baseline CD4 count > or =100 cells/microL. The only variable independently associated with OS was the achievement of CR.

Cutaneous malignancy and human immunodeficiency virus disease

Certain skin cancers occur with increased frequency or altered course in patients infected with HIV. Malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma are examples of cutaneous malignancies that have a more aggressive course in patients with HIV. Others, such as basal cell carcinoma, appear more frequently in this population but do not appear to be more aggressive. The incidence of HIV-associated Kapsosi's sarcoma has markedly decreased since the advent of HIV antiretroviral therapy. Our understanding of the pathogenesis of this malignancy and its unique management issues are fully reviewed. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is rare in this population. Other types of cutaneous lymphoma and HIV-associated pseudo-CTCL are discussed. This article addresses prevention, treatment, and follow-up strategies for this at-risk population.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

At the completion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with the unique epidemiology, clinical course, and management of cutaneous malignancy in patients infected with HIV.

Current treatment strategies for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and HIV infection

Hodgkin's lymphoma is the most common non-AIDS-defining tumor diagnosed in HIV-infected patients. Although the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) led to a decreased incidence of several malignancies among HIV-infected patients, the incidence of HIV-associated Hodgkin's lymphoma (HIV-HL) has been persistent in recent years. Its unusually aggressive tumor behavior includes a higher frequency of unfavorable histologic subtypes, high stage and extranodal involvement by the time of presentation and poor therapeutic outcome, in comparison with Hodgkin's lymphoma outside the HIV setting. Treatment of HIV-HL is challenging considering the underlying immunodeficiency caused by HIV itself and may increase the risk of opportunistic infections by inducing further immunosuppression. To address this delicate vulnerability of the HIV-infected host, tailored regimens, which are less aggressive than standard regimens for HIV-negative hosts, have been applied to achieve tumor control. The introduction of HAART has opened a new perspective in the treatment of HIV-associated malignancies. The improved control of HIV infection and the subsequently improved survival rates of HIV-infected patients has changed the goal from tumor control to cure and new treatment approaches with more potent regimens need to be evaluated to improve survival and quality of life in HIV-HL.