Disease Information

Leukemias / Lymphomas: Hodgkin Lymphoma

Alternate Names: Hodgkin disease

Definition

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer characterized by progressive enlargement of affected lymph nodes and sometimes spread to the spleen, liver, bone marrow, bones, or lungs.

Incidence

• Every year in the United States, 6,000 to 7,000 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed (in adults and children)..
• In the United States and northern Europe, Hodgkin lymphoma is rare before the age of five, with a gradual rise in incidence until adolescence and a peak in the 20s and another peak later in adulthood.

Influencing Factors

• Boys are more likely than girls to develop Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Siblings of patients have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.
• The virus that causes mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) is believed to play a role in the development of some cases of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Survival Rates

• The survival rate today for low-stage Hogkin lymphoma is greater than 90 percent.
• The survival rate for advanced disease is greater than 80 percent.

Treatment Strategies

• Radiation therapy works well for localized Hodgkin lymphoma, but may significantly impair the growth of bones and soft tissues in young children and increase the risk of heart disease and second cancers as patients grow older.
• Chemotherapy alone or combination therapy with chemotherapy and low-dose radiation therapy is the standard treatment for young patients and those who have more advanced disease.

Current Research

• Newer risk-adapted therapies are under investigation to determine if it is possible to reduce the amount of treatment (which should reduce the long-term side effects of heart and lung disease and second cancers) and still maintain cure rates. Three treatment protocols are currently available at St. Jude for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: HOD99, HOD05 and HOD08.
• The Hodgkin consortium is based at St Jude and led by Monika Metzger, MD. It includes the following institutions: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Maine Medical Center. Collaborators work together to develop improved treatment strategies for Hodkgin lymphoma patients.
• Long term side effects in survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma are being investigated in the SJLIFE studies 4,5 and 16.
• Laboratory-based scientists are working with physicians to better understand the role that viruses like the Epstein-Barr virus play in the development of Hodgkin lymphoma. This information will be helpful in developing new approaches to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.

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