Clinical Dilemmas in the Treatment of Elderly Patients Suffering from Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Review

Scientific paper - Review paper

• Author: Vibor Milunović
• Author: Ida Hude
• Author: Goran Rinčić
• Author: Davor Galušić
• Author: Aron Grubešić
• Author: Marko Martinović
• Author: Nika Popović
• Author: Sunčana Divošević
• Author: Klara Brčić
• Author: Marin Međugorac
• Author: Luka Kužat
• Author: Dejan Strahija
• Author: Stefan Mrđenović
• Author: Inga Mandac Smoljanović
• Author: Delfa Radić-Krišto
• Author: Slavko Gašparov
• Author: Igor Aurer
• Author: Slobodanka Ostojić Kolonić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Internal Medicine)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Pathology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Internal Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Pathology

Abstract (english)

Elderly patients make up a significant number of cases of newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma. However, unlike in young patients, the outcomes of elderly patients are poor, and they are under-represented in phase III trials. Prior to treatment initiation, geriatric assessment should ideally be performed to address the patient’s fitness and decide whether to pursue a curative or palliative approach. The ABVD regimen is poorly tolerated in unfit patients, with high treatment-related mortality. Alternative chemotherapy approaches have been explored, with mixed results obtained concerning their feasibility and toxicity in phase II trials. The introduction of brentuximab vedotin-based regimens led to a paradigm shift in first- and further-line treatment of elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients, providing adequate disease control within a broader patient population. As far as checkpoint inhibitors are concerned, we are only just beginning to understand the role in the treatment of this population. In relapsed/refractory settings there are few options, ranging from autologous stem cell transplantation in selected patients to pembrolizumab, but unfortunately, palliative care is the most common modality. Importantly, published studies are frequently burdened with numerous biases (such as low numbers of patients, selection bias and lack of geriatric assessment), leading to low level of evidence. Furthermore, there are few ongoing studies on this topic. Thus, elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients are hard to treat and represent an unmet need in hematologic oncology. In conclusion, treatment needs to be personalized and tailored on a case-by-case basis. In this article, we outline treatment options for elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

• Keywords (english): ABVD protocol; Hodgkin lymphoma; brentuximab vedotin; frail elderly; geriatric assessment; immune checkpoint inhibitors
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Review paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Biomedicines
• Numbering: vol. 10, no. 11, 2917
• e-ISSN: 2227-9059
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10112917
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:119630
• Publication: 2022-11-14
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/11/2917
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-06-19 07:35:48