Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma at Increased Risk for Head and Neck Cancer

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma with squamous cell carcinoma (HL-SCC) are more likely to develop salivary and non salivary head and neck cancer (HNC) after HL than those patients with a first primary SCC, according to a journal article published online in Cancer.

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for 1973 through 2011 was used to analyze survivors of HL who developed HCN as a secondary malignancy.  These patients were then compared with patients with first primary HCN.

Observed-to-expected ratios were calculated for SCC among patients with HL (1.73; 95% CI, 1.36-2.16; P<0.05) and for SGC (8.56; 95% CI, 5.82-12.15; P<0.05). 

Patient history of HL was determined to be an adverse prognostic fact for patient survival for SCC (HR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.73; P=0.009) but not for SGC (HR = 1.21; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.79; P=0.34).  Increased risk of mortality in patients with HL-SCC appears to be associated with the deaths from HL and secondary malignancies diagnosed after SCC.

The study suggests that survivors of HL should have regular head and neck examinations and clinicians should be aware of patients’ increased risk for developing HCN after HL.