Late effects in survivors treated for lymphoma as adolescents and young adults: a population-based analysis

The study objective is to describe and quantify the incidence of treatment-induced late effects in AYA lymphoma patients.

Consecutive patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at 15-24 years of age were identified. All patients in British Columbia who received radiation therapy (RT) from 1974 to 2014 with ≥ 5-year survival post-RT were included. Late effects' analyses included only survivors who received RT to the relevant anatomical site(s) and/or relevant chemotherapy, and were reported as cumulative incidence (CI) ± standard error.

Three hundred and five patients were identified (74% HL). Median age of diagnosis was 21 years. Median follow-up was 19.1 years for secondary malignancy and 7.2 years for other endpoints. Hypothyroidism was the most prevalent late effect, with a CI of 22.4 ± 2.8% and 35.1 ± 4% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. CI of in-field secondary malignancy was 0.4 ± 0.4% at 10 years and 2.8 ± 1.2% at 20 years. CI of symptomatic pulmonary toxicity was 4.6 ± 1.5% and 6.8 ± 2.0% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, and was higher in patients receiving multiple RT courses (p = 0.009). Esophageal complications occurred at a CI of 1.4 ± 0.8% at 5 years and 2.2 ± 1.1% at 10 years. CI of xerostomia/dental decay was 2.6 ± 1.3% at 5 years and 4.9 ± 2.1% at 10 years. CI of cardiac disease was at 2.3 ± 0.9% at 5 years and 4.4 ± 1.5% at 10 years. CI of infertility was 6.5 ± 1.6% at 5 years and 9.4 ± 2.1% at 10 years.

Survivors of AYA lymphoma have a high incidence and diverse presentation of late effects.

AYA lymphoma survivors should be educated about their risks of late effects and offered screening and follow-up when appropriate.