Second solid tumors and leukemia after treatment for Hodgkin's disease: an analysis of 1121 patients from a single institution.

PURPOSE

To define the risk of having a second malignant neoplasm (ST) in different subsets of Hodgkin's disease patients and possibly to identify potentially avoidable therapeutic behaviors, linked with an increased second tumor probability.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Cumulative probability of having a ST has been calculated for the different clinical and therapeutic subgroups of a population of 1121 patients consecutively treated (1960-1988) for Hodgkin's disease. Age groups at diagnosis were as follows: < 20 years, 18%; 20-40, 48%; 41-60, 26%; > 60, 8%. Initial treatment consisted of radiation alone (67%), combined modality treatment (24%), chemotherapy alone (9%). Treatment for relapse was also coded, and the occurrence of ST was related both to initial treatment (considering relapsed patients as censored at relapse) and to the "overall" treatment burden, without censoring at relapse.

RESULTS

An increased ST risk has been observed in patients older at HD diagnosis. Second tumors cumulative probability rates were significantly higher in patients initially treated with chemotherapy, especially when associated with subtotal or total nodal irradiation (relative risks of 3.1 and 4.1, p = .03 and .005, respectively, when compared to involved field radiotherapy alone). The same trend was observed for second solid tumors. Acute leukemia was more frequent in patients initially given chemotherapy alone or associated with radiotherapy (p = .01), and in those treated with an increasing number of cycles (p = .004). "Salvage" chemotherapy after radiation alone at presentation does not seem to be linked with an increased risk of leukemia.

CONCLUSION

The 15-year cumulative ST probability (11%) should be evaluated in the context of the very good cure rates achieved for Hodgkin's disease. The use of chemotherapy, particularly when associated with subtotal or total nodal irradiation, entails an increased risk of second malignancies and might be inappropriate in early stage Hodgkin's disease patients.