Comparative Outcome Analysis of Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma Vs Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma - a SEER Based Study

Introduction

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a slower-growing variant of Hodgkin lymphoma that is uniquely characterized by its growth pattern and cellular appearance. While patients with NLPHL tend to demonstrate more promising prognoses than their counterparts with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), recent comparative studies remain limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the disparities in survival rates between NLPHL and CHL patients, accounting for variations in patient demographics and disease attributes.

Methodology

We utilized Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 17 registries database to identify patients diagnosed with NLPHL and CHL between 2000 – 2020. Univariate survival analysis was done using a Kaplan Meir plot with a log-rank test, and the Cox proportion hazard regression model was used for multivariate survival analysis.

Results

A total of 2,723 NLPHL cases and 42,581 CHL cases were included in the study. The median age of NLPHL patients stood at 44 years, whereas for CHL patients it was observed to be 38 years. Over an 83-month median follow-up, NLPHL demonstrated superior 5-year (92.2%) and 10-year (83.84%) survival rates compared to CHL (82.45% and 75.45%, respectively). When controlled for all available characteristics, NLPHL showed a significantly higher overall survival (HR: 2.373; 95% CI, 2.131 – 2.644; P<.001) than CHL. For those diagnosed with NLPHL, our data indicated that patients who underwent radiation therapy had better survival rate (HR: 1.98; 95% CI, 1.55 – 2.53; p<.001). Additionally, younger age and male gender were associated with a more favorable prognosis.

Conclusion

Our analysis highlights the superior survival outcomes for NLPHL patients as compared to those with CHL, even when accounting for available patient and disease characteristics. The further enhanced survival rates observed in NLPHL patients undergoing radiation therapy suggests potential for more tailored therapeutic approaches. Factors such as younger age and male gender were also identified as indicative of a more favorable prognosis, underscoring the need for further exploration of demographic and clinical influences on survival outcomes in Hodgkin lymphomas.