Late effects and frontline treatment selection for children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Approximately 1 in 640 adults between 20 and 40 years of age is a survivor of childhood cancer. However, survival has often come at the expense of increased risk of long-term complications, including chronic health conditions and higher mortality rates. Similarly, long-term survivors of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) experience significant morbidity and mortality related to prior cancer treatments, highlighting the importance of primary and secondary prevention strategies to mitigate late toxicity. As a result, effective treatment regimens for pediatric NHL have evolved to reduce both short- and long-term toxicity through cumulative dose reductions and elimination of radiation. The establishment of effective regimens facilitates shared decision-making opportunities for frontline treatment selection that considers efficacy, acute toxicity, convenience, and late effects of treatments. The current review seeks to merge current frontline treatment regimens with survivorship guidelines to enhance understanding of potential long-term health risks to facilitate best treatment practices.

Keywords: Cancer survivorship; Late effects; Non-hodgkin lymphoma.