Secondary Cancers In Young Survivors Of Hodgkin Disease Evaluated

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 20 May 2008 - 1:00 PST

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Denise Rokitka, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, will present the results of a study of secondary cancers among children and adolescents following treatment for Hodgkin disease, Sunday, June 1, at 2 pm, at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), in Chicago, IL.

Hodgkin disease (HD) - a cancer of the lymph nodes - has a cure rate of over 90%. However, this success has led to a population of survivors who seem to be at future risk of developing second cancers (other than HD).

This study was done to determine the frequency and risk factors related to developing second cancers among patients seen at Roswell Park up to age 19 years at time of diagnosis between 1960 and 1989. The experience of these patients was followed through the end of 2006.

Of 182 individuals studied, 27 (15%) developed at least one second cancer and 12 (7%) were diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. Thyroid and breast cancers, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were the most common secondary cancers in both male and females, occurring six times more often than would be expected in a population without a history of treatment for HD. Basal cell carcinoma was 17 times more common in males and 12 times more common in females. The occurrence of second cancers was not found to be related to previous chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.

These results are relevant to the clinical care of survivors of childhood HD, aid in quantifying the risk of secondary cancers and underscore the importance of long-term follow-up and clinician counseling regarding cancer screening/surveillance and healthy behaviors.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute- designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs both nationally and internationally.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute