Lymphocyte-predominant and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma: a comprehensive analysis from the German Hodgkin Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL) is rare and differs in histologic and clinical presentation from classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). To shed more light on the prognosis and outcome of LPHL, we reviewed all LPHL patients registered in the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) database, comparing patient characteristics and treatment outcome with cHL patients.


METHODS
We analyzed retrospectively 8,298 HL patients treated within the GHSG trials HD4 to HD12, of whom 394 had LPHL and 7,904 had cHL.


RESULTS
Complete remission and unconfirmed complete remission after first-line treatment was achieved in 91.6% v 85.9% of patients in early favorable stages, 85.7% v 83.3% of patients in early unfavorable stages, and 76.8% v 77.8% of patients in advanced stages of LPHL compared with cHL, respectively. Tumor control (freedom from treatment failure [FFTF]) for LPHL and cHL patients at a median observation of 50 months was 88% and 82% (P = .0093) and overall survival (OS) was 96% and 92%, respectively (P = .0166). In LPHL patients, negative prognostic factors were advanced stage (P = .0092), Hb less than 10.5 g/dL (P = .0171), and lymphopenia (P = .010) for FFTF. Age >or= 45 years (P = .0125), advanced stage (P = .0153), and Hb less than 10.5 g/dL (P = .0014) were negative prognostic factors for OS.


CONCLUSIONS
The better prognosis of LPHL as compared with cHL might allow different treatment strategies, particularly for early-stage LPHL patients.
Nogová
Lucia
L
First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpenerstr 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany. lucia.nogova@uk-koeln.de
Reineke
Thorsten
T
Brillant
Corinne
C
Sieniawski
Michal
M
Rüdiger
Thomas
T
Josting
Andreas
A
Bredenfeld
Henning
H
Skripnitchenko
Roman
R
Müller
Rolf-Peter
RP
Müller-Hermelink
Hans-Konrad
HK
Diehl
Volker
V
Engert
Andreas
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome