Changes in the influence of lymphoma- and HIV-specific factors on outcomes in AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Ann Oncol. 2015 May;26(5):958-966. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdv036. Epub 2015 Jan 28.

Abstract

Background: We undertook the present analysis to examine the shifting influence of prognostic factors in HIV-positive patients diagnosed with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) over the last two decades.

Patients and methods: We carried out a pooled analysis from an existing database of patients with AIDS-related lymphoma. Individual patient data had been obtained prior from prospective phase II or III clinical trials carried out between 1990 until 2010 in North America and Europe that studied chemo(immuno)therapy in HIV-positive patients diagnosed with AIDS-related lymphomas. Studies had been identified by a systematic review. We analyzed patient-level data for 1546 patients with AIDS-related lymphomas using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models to identify the association of patient-, lymphoma-, and HIV-specific variables with the outcomes complete response (CR), progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) in different eras: pre-cART (1989-1995), early cART (1996-2000), recent cART (2001-2004), and contemporary cART era (2005-2010).

Results: Outcomes for patients with AIDS-related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma improved significantly over time, irrespective of baseline CD4 count or age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (IPI) risk category. Two-year OS was best in the contemporary era: 67% and 75% compared with 24% and 37% in the pre-cART era (P < 0.001). While the age-adjusted IPI was a significant predictor of outcome in all time periods, the influence of other factors waxed and waned. Individual HIV-related factors such as low CD4 counts (<50/mm(3)) and prior history of AIDS were no longer associated with poor outcomes in the contemporary era.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a significant improvement of CR rate and survival for all patients with AIDS-related lymphomas. Effective HIV-directed therapies reduce the impact of HIV-related prognostic factors on outcomes and allow curative antilymphoma therapy for the majority of patients with aggressive NHL.

Keywords: AIDS; Burkitt lymphoma; HIV; IPI; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-HIV Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Databases, Factual
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Europe
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / mortality
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Logistic Models
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / immunology
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / mortality
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / mortality
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • North America
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents