In a nutshell
This study investigated whether or not there was an increased risk of radiation pneumonitis (RP, radiation-induced lung injury) in Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with the chemotherapy bleomycin. The authors concluded that there was no association between bleomycin lung effects and RP.
Some background
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system. The standard treatment is ABVD chemotherapy (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) followed by radiation therapy. Bleomycin has been associated with an increased risk of lung toxicity (negative side effects). Radiation to the chest is also associated with lung toxicity, such as RP. It is not clear whether radiation is safe for patients who develop lung toxicity due to bleomycin treatment.
Methods & findings
The present study examined whether radiation therapy is safe in those who experience adverse effects to bleomycin.
The records of 123 Hodgkin-Lymphoma patients were examined. All patients were treated with bleomycin chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the chest. 80% were treated with radiation following ABVD chemotherapy. 20% were treated with other chemotherapies before radiation.
25% of patients developed lung toxicity due to bleomycin. 14% developed RP. There was no significant association between bleomycin lung toxicity and the risk of RP.
The rate of RP was increased 4.24-fold if the average dose of radiation was higher than 13.5 Gys. RP risk was also increased by 14% if more than 55% of total lung volume was exposed to more than 5 Gys of radiation at any one time.
The bottom line
This study concluded that there was no association between lung toxicity due to bleomycin and RP. The authors suggested that radiation should not be delayed in those who experience lung toxicity.
The fine print
Prospective trials, carried-out on a larger scale, are also needed to confirm these findings.
Published By :
International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
Date :
Dec 01, 2016
