Controversies in radiotherapy for pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2011 Sep;11(9):1357-66.

Abstract

Cure rates for pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma remain among the highest in pediatric oncology. Research efforts are currently focused on minimizing treatment-related toxicity without compromising outcomes. For children with early stage/favorable Hodgkin's lymphoma, the standard treatment includes 2-4 cycles of combination chemotherapy, generally followed by low-dose involved-field radiotherapy. Children with advanced stage/unfavorable disease require more intense treatment than those with favorable disease. The standard treatment for advanced stage/unfavorable disease is 4–6 cycles of intense multiagent non-cross-resistant chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy. Response-adapted therapy is emerging as a promising strategy to attenuate therapy and thereby reduce toxicity in children with an excellent prognosis and intensify therapy in those children at higher risk of progression or relapse.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Disease Progression
  • Hodgkin Disease / drug therapy
  • Hodgkin Disease / pathology
  • Hodgkin Disease / radiotherapy*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Risk Factors