Lymphocyte-Predominant and Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Analysis From the German Hodgkin Study Group

Purpose Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL) is rare and differs in histologic and clinical presentation from classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). To shed more light on the prognosis and outcome of LPHL, we reviewed all LPHL patients registered in the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) database, comparing patient characteristics and treatment outcome with cHL patients. Patients and Methods We analyzed retrospectively 8,298 HL patients treated within the GHSG trials HD4 to HD12, of whom 394 had LPHL and 7,904 had cHL. Results Complete remission and unconfirmed complete remission after first-line treatment was achieved in 91.6% v 85.9% of patients in early favorable stages, 85.7% v 83.3% of patients in early unfavorable stages, and 76.8% v 77.8% of patients in advanced stages of LPHL compared with cHL, respectively. Tumor control (freedom from treatment failure [FFTF]) for LPHL and cHL patients at a median observation of 50 months was 88% and 82% (P = .0093) and overall survival (OS) was 96% and 9...