Patterns of care and survival outcomes examining radiation therapy for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

The use of radiation therapy (RT) and its impact on survival in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. Data were obtained from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registries from 1988–2011. There were 9467 adults who met inclusion criteria; 19% received RT. Radiation use declined from 25% in 1988 to 16% in 2011. Five-year overall survival (OS) for stage III and IV patients for the no versus RT cohorts were 79% versus 88% (p < 0.0001) and 73% versus 84% (p < 0.0001), respectively. RT was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.76; 0.68–0.85) on multivariable analysis and in patients diagnosed after 2000. Although there was a decline in utilization of RT from 1988 to 2011, RT was associated with a survival benefit in stage III–IV HL.

Keywords:

• Hodgkin
• radiotherapy
• SEER

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2016.1193856.