RESUMEN
Elderly patients make up a significant number of cases of newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma. However, unlike in young patients, the outcomes of elderly patients are poor, and they are under-represented in phase III trials. Prior to treatment initiation, geriatric assessment should ideally be performed to address the patient's fitness and decide whether to pursue a curative or palliative approach. The ABVD regimen is poorly tolerated in unfit patients, with high treatment-related mortality. Alternative chemotherapy approaches have been explored, with mixed results obtained concerning their feasibility and toxicity in phase II trials. The introduction of brentuximab vedotin-based regimens led to a paradigm shift in first- and further-line treatment of elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients, providing adequate disease control within a broader patient population. As far as checkpoint inhibitors are concerned, we are only just beginning to understand the role in the treatment of this population. In relapsed/refractory settings there are few options, ranging from autologous stem cell transplantation in selected patients to pembrolizumab, but unfortunately, palliative care is the most common modality. Importantly, published studies are frequently burdened with numerous biases (such as low numbers of patients, selection bias and lack of geriatric assessment), leading to low level of evidence. Furthermore, there are few ongoing studies on this topic. Thus, elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients are hard to treat and represent an unmet need in hematologic oncology. In conclusion, treatment needs to be personalized and tailored on a case-by-case basis. In this article, we outline treatment options for elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients.
RESUMEN
Mostly primary gastric lymphomas are of the non-Hodgkin variety. Primary Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) of the stomach is an unusual entity that may be a big challenge in diagnosis. We reporter are case presenting as gastric outlet obstruction, which was later diagnosed as primary Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the stomach. Its rare coincidence makes it worth to be reported to sensitize clinicians as well as pathologists for the uncommon extra nodal site of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Asunto(s)
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Obstrucción de la Salida Gástrica/etiología , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Gástricas/diagnóstico , Estómago/patología , Biomarcadores de Tumor/análisis , Biopsia , Bleomicina/uso terapéutico , Dacarbazina/uso terapéutico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Doxorrubicina/uso terapéutico , Derivación Gástrica , Obstrucción de la Salida Gástrica/cirugía , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/complicaciones , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Hodgkin/patología , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Yeyuno/cirugía , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estómago/diagnóstico por imagen , Estómago/cirugía , Neoplasias Gástricas/complicaciones , Neoplasias Gástricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Gástricas/patología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Vinblastina/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Resumen ANTECEDENTES: El linfoma de Hodgkin ocupa el cuarto lugar de las neoplasias que aparecen durante el embarazo. En realidad, éste no tiene repercusiones en la historia natural de la enfermedad, pero dificulta el tratamiento. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 18 años, con 35 semanas de embarazo; ingresó al servicio de Ginecología Oncológica por aumento de volumen en la región axilar derecha, con dolor a la palpación profunda. Durante la exploración se observó un ganglio móvil de 3 x 3.5 cm en el lado derecho de la región axilar y adenopatía inguinal izquierda, menor de 1 cm. La ecografía reportó la mama derecha con una masa sólida, homogénea, de bordes nítidos, de 38 x 35 mm y volumen de 20.84 cc; el Doppler color evidenció aumento de la vascularización. La lesión se estadificó en BIRADS 3. Se decidió finalizar el embarazo por cesárea, con nacimiento de un varón sano, de 2900 g, Apgar 8/9. De la biopsia se extrajeron ocho ganglios linfáticos axilares. La inmunohistoquímica confirmó un proceso linfoproliferativo, compatible con linfoma de Hodgkin clásico, con celularidad mixta CD30+ y KI67 50%. Se le indicó quimioterapia con protocolo ABVD en 6 ciclos, sin necesidad de radioterapia. A seis meses de la cirugía su evolución fue satisfactoria, con ausencia de ganglios palpables, sin recidiva ni reacción fallida a los medicamentos. CONCLUSIÓN: El linfoma de Hodgkin concomitante con el embarazo es excepcional; los signos de la enfermedad pueden confundirse fácilmente con otras alteraciones, incluso pasar inadvertidas. El feto, al exponerse a radiación menor a 100 mGy, tiene menos posibilidades de malformaciones.
Abstract BACKGROUND: Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy accounts for 4th place in the neoplasms. Pregnancy has no impact on the natural history of the disease; however, it hinders treatment, which is individualized from a clinical evaluation and based on staging. CLASSIC CASE: Patient 18 years of age, with pregnancy of 35 weeks gestation, who is referred to the external consultation of Oncology Gynecology by increased volume in right axillary region with deep palpation pain. During its examination presence of 3 x 3.5 cm mobile node, on the right side of the axillary region, and left inguinal adenopathy >1 cm. The ultrasound reported right breast with solid mass, homogeneous, sharp edges, 38 x 35 mm and volume of 20.84 cc, doppler color with increased vascularity, is staged as BIRADS 3. Cesarean section was performed, with male birth, weight; 2900 g Apgar 8/9 without incident report. In the periareolar excisional biopsy, eight axillary lymph nodes were removed. Immunohistochemistry confirmed a classic LH-compatible lymphoproliferative process with CD30+, KI67 50% mixed cellularity. The hematology service decides management based on chemotherapy with ABVD protocol in 6 blocks, without radiotherapy. Currently it is evolving smoothly after six months of surgery, there was no corroborate of palpable nodes, and so far treatment, without reports of relapses or reaction to medications. CONCLUSION: Hodgkin´s lymphoma in pregnancy is exceptional, the signs of the disease are easily confused with other pathologies or even go unnoticed. The fetus, when exposed to radiation less than 100 mgy, is less likely to malform.
RESUMEN
STUDY QUESTION: Is spermatogenesis impairment caused by Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) itself or by the various treatments? SUMMARY ANSWER: HL is not itself the main cause of impaired spermatogenesis, which is instead affected by the treatment; the extent of impairment depends on the type of treatment and the number of cycles. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Data in the literature are contradictory, although most studies found poor semen quality in HL patients prior to treatment. The impact of therapy on spermatogenesis depends on the type of treatment, but the time needed to recover testicular function following treatment with chemotherapeutic agents inducing azoospermia is unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In a retrospective study, the semen parameters of 519 patients (504 with sperm and 15 who were azoospermic) were investigated.HL patients were analysed before therapy. A longitudinal study was also conducted of semen quality in 202 patients pre- and post-ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) at T0 (baseline) and 6 (T6), 12 (T12) and 24 (T24) months after the end of treatment, and of 42 patients pre- and post-BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone), COPP/ABVD (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine), OPP/ABVD (vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) or MOPP (mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone) and inguinal radiotherapy at different observation times (from T0 to 16 years after treatment). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Semen parameters were examined according to World Health Organization 2010 criteria, evaluating sperm concentration, total sperm number, progressive motility and morphology. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Our data, which pertain to the largest caseload reported to date, indicate that 75% of HL patients are normozoospermic prior to treatment. The results from the HL patients studied pre- and post-therapy demonstrate that spermatogenesis recovery depends on the therapeutic regimen used. After ABVD, there was a statistically significant decrease in sperm concentration and total sperm number at T6 and T12 (P < 0.001; P < 0.01, respectively). There was a significant drop in progressive motility (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in abnormal forms (P < 0.01) at T6. The differences in sperm concentration, total sperm number and abnormal forms at T0 and T24 were not statistically significant, indicating that sperm quality had returned to pre-therapy values. The most interesting data in terms of patient management arise from the study of azoospermia induced by other chemotherapeutic agents. A high number of BEACOPP, COPP/ABVD, OPP/ABVD or MOPP cycles (≥6) induced a permanent absence of sperm in the seminal fluid, while even following a low number of cycles (<6), spermatogenesis only recovered after 3-5 years and semen quality was highly impaired. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The study type (retrospective) and the low caseload and varying time of the follow-up do not permit any firm conclusions to be drawn about the recovery of spermatogenesis after BEACOPP or other combined therapies, or the identification of any risk factors for testicular function in treated patients. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The pretreatment semen parameters of HL patients in this study were better than some results reported in the literature, with a higher percentage of normozoospermic patients. Strengths of this study were the large caseload of HL patients and a high degree of consistency in semen analysis, as all parameters were assessed in the same laboratory. Following the azoospermia induced by different chemotherapeutic protocols, spermatogenesis may take several years to recover. Awareness of this issue will enable oncologists to better inform patients about the possibility of recovering fertility post-treatment and also demonstrates the importance of semen cryobanking before beginning any cancer treatment. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Education and Research (MIUR-PRIN) and the University of Rome 'La Sapienza' Faculty of Medicine. The authors have no conflicts of interest.