Adolescent and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma: Raising the bar through collaborative science and multidisciplinary care

Abstract

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of the most common cancers in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population (15-39 years). Despite continued improvements in HL outcomes, AYAs have not exhibited survival gains to the same extent as other age groups. At present, details about tumor biology, optimal therapeutic approaches, supportive care needs, and long-term toxicities in AYAs with HL remain understudied. Herein, we summarize the current state of the AYA population with HL, specifically focusing on how collaborations across the pediatric and medical oncology divide, coupled with multidisciplinary patient care, can further optimize outcomes for this group of patients.

Indications for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: current practice in Europe, 2019

“…Nearly all children and adolescents with Hodgkin and non-HL are cured with multidrug chemotherapy. Few such paediatric patients are eligible for HSCT (Table 2) [214][215][216][217][218]. In particular, patients with residual disease after reinduction therapy of contemporary chemotherapy-protocols, patients with early NHL-relapses or patients with inadequate response or relapse of ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.…”

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes in Children, Adolescents, and Young-adults with Hodgkin's Lymphoma: a KPHOG Lymphoma Working-party, Multicenter, Retrospective Study

“…HL affects approximately 2.9/100,000 and 2.3/100,000 male and female, respectively, and accounts for 1,070 deaths annually in the United States. 4 It is the most common cancer diagnosis in patients between the ages of 15 and 24 years, and > 40% of newly diagnosed HL patients are between the ages of 15 and 34 years in the United States. 2 In Korea, HL affects approximately 0.8/100,000 male and 0.4/100,000 female and accounts for about 50 deaths annually.…”

Closing the survivorship gap in children and adolescents with Hodgkin lymphoma

“…The overall efficacy of conventional therapy is such that, in 2016, there were an estimated 210 974 individuals living with HL in the US (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, ), many of whom were initially treated in their childhood. While primary therapy results in a 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) of 80–85% across all patients, children have significantly better HL‐specific survival than adolescent and young adults (AYA), and older adults (Kahn & Kelly, ). In addition, there appear to be demographic populations who have not benefited from the overall gains with conventional therapy.…”

“…Future trials incorporating novel agents in paediatric HL need to consider how to achieve gains in younger adolescents (12–15 years of age) and adolescents/young adults (15–39 years of age), a population known to lag in benefit behind their older and younger counterparts (Kahn & Kelly, ). Toward this goal, the National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) will facilitate intergroup trials in North America.…”