Involved-nodal radiation therapy as a component of combination therapy for limited-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma: a question of field size

J Clin Oncol. 2008 Nov 10;26(32):5170-4. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.15.1001. Epub 2008 Oct 6.

Abstract

Purpose: Combined-modality therapy is the standard of care for limited-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Radiation therapy has evolved from extended-field radiation therapy (EFRT) to involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT), reducing toxicity while maintaining high cure rates. Recent publications recommend a further reduction to involved-nodal radiation therapy (INRT), however, this has not been clinically validated.

Patients and methods: We identified 325 patients with limited-stage HL, diagnosed between May 1, 1989 and April 1, 2005, and treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy following era-specific guidelines: EFRT until 1996; IFRT from 1996 to 2001; INRT < or = 5 cm from 2001 to the present. INRT < or = 5 cm was defined as the prechemotherapy nodal volume with margins < or = 5 cm to account for physiological movement, set-up variation, and the limitations of conventional simulation and radiation therapy techniques. Exclusion criteria were age younger than 16, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, non-doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine-like chemotherapy, and/or more than four chemotherapy cycles.

Results: At diagnosis, median age was 35 years; 52% male; stage IA 29%; stage IIA 71%. Ninety-five percent of patients received two chemotherapy cycles. The three radiation therapy groups were: EFRT, 39%; IFRT, 30%; and INRT < or = 5 cm, 31%. Median follow-up of living patients was 80 months. Median time to relapse was 37 months. Twelve relapses occurred: four after EFRT (3%); five after IFRT (5%); and three after INRT < or = 5 cm (3%; P = .9). No marginal recurrences occurred after INRT < or = 5 cm. Locoregional relapse (LRR) occurred in five patients: three after EFRT; two with IFRT; and none with INRT < or = 5 cm. At 5 years, progression-free survival (PFS) was 97%, and overall survival (OS) was 95%. At 10 years, PFS and OS were 95% and 90%, respectively.

Conclusion: Reduction in field size appears to be safe, without an increased risk of LRR in patients receiving INRT < or = 5 cm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Hodgkin Disease / drug therapy
  • Hodgkin Disease / mortality
  • Hodgkin Disease / pathology
  • Hodgkin Disease / radiotherapy*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / radiation effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Recurrence
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome