Onkológia 1/2016

Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents – optimization of treatment

Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents is thanks to modern treatment highly curable systemic malignant disease. Elaboration of „standard treatment recommendations“ is hampered by efforts to reduce acute and late toxicity reduction after chemo- and radiotherapy without decreasing overall survival. Such attitude has contributed to treatment strategies often different from those used in adults. Demands for more appropriate stratification for Hodgkin lymphoma patients, chemosensitivity evaluation by imaging methods and biomarkers identification has risen. Better understanding of Hodgkin lymphoma biology has led to targeted therapy identification mostly in recurrent/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, but many questions still remain regarding its usage and efficacy. International cooperation among Hodgkin lymphoma working groups for children, adolescents and adults should be beneficial in solving these issues.

Keywords: Hodgkin lymphoma, stratification of risk groups, chemosensitivity Hodgkin lymphoma, targeted treatment