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Simple Summary: The significance of serum beta-2 microglobulin (sβ2m) in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. In an effort to investigate the prognostic significance of sβ2m levels in a large series of patients with HL, we analyzed 915 patients, who were treated with ABVD or equivalent regimens with or without radiotherapy. Sβ2m levels were measured by a radioimmunoassay (upper normal limit 2.4 mg/L). The median sβ2m levels were 2.20 mg/L. Freedom from progression (FFP) was significantly inferior in patients with a higher sβ2m at all tested cutoffs. The best cutoff was 2.0 mg/L (10-year FFP 83% vs. 70%, p = 0.001), which performed better than the 2.4 mg/L cutoff ("normal versus high"). Our data suggest that higher sβ2m is a significant independent predictor of FFP, OS and HLSS in HL but the optimal cutoff appears to lie within the normal limits in this predominantly young patient population. The significance of serum beta-2 microglobulin (sβ2m) in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. We analyzed 915 patients with HL, who were treated with ABVD or equivalent regimens with or without radiotherapy. Sβ2m levels were measured by a radioimmunoassay (upper normal limit 2.4 mg/L). Sequential cutoffs (1.8–3.0 by 0.1 mg/L increments, 3.5 and 4.0 mg/L) were tested along with ROC analysis. The median sβ2m levels were 2.20 mg/L and were elevated (>2.4 mg/L) in 383/915 patients (41.9%). Higher sβ2m was associated with inferior freedom from progression (FFP) at all tested cutoffs. The best cutoff was 2.0 mg/L (10-year FFP 83% vs. 70%, p = 0.001), which performed better than the 2.4 mg/L cutoff ("normal versus high"). In multivariate analysis, sβ2m > 2.0 mg/L was an independent adverse prognostic factor in the whole patient population. In multivariate overall survival analysis, sβ2m levels were predictive at 2.0 mg/L cutoff in the whole patient population and in advanced stages. Similarly, sβ2m > 2.0 mg/L independently predicted inferior HL-specific survival in the whole patient population. Our data suggest that higher sβ2m is an independent predictor of outcome in HL but the optimal cutoff lies within the normal limits (i.e., at 2.0 mg/L) in this predominantly young patient population, performing much better than a "normal versus high" cutoff set at 2.4 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives : To investigate the prognosis of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) who relapse following a complete remission (CR) achieved by chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy (CT±RT), and to identify prognostic factors for freedom from second progression (FF 2 P). Methods : We analyzed the prognostic significance of the initial CT regimen (4 vs. 7–8 drugs), treatment-free interval (TFI), and demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors at the time of relapse and diagnosis, in 113 patients with HL, who relapsed after a CR achieved by CT±RT. Results : Conventional salvage CT±RT was administered in 107 patients, while six received RT only. The 5-yr FF 2 P was 24%, while the 10-yr survival after relapse (O 2 S) was 39% and was not afffected by the initial CT regimen. Multivariate analysis revealed that extranodal disease at relapse ( P <0.001), TFI<6 month ( P <0.001), >=5 involved sites at diagnosis ( P =0.04) and anemia at relapse ( P =0.03) were independent predictors of FF 2 P. 55% of patients had 0 or 1 of these adverse prognostic factors. The 5-yr FF 2 P of patients with 0, 1 or 2 adverse factors was 58%, 34% and 5% ( P <0.0001). The corresponding rates for 10-yr O 2 S were 68%, 51% and 25%, respectively ( P =0.002). Conclusions: Our data confirmed the significance of TFI and extranodal relapse and demonstrated a potential role for anemia at relapse and number of involved sites at diagnosis, for the prognosis of patients with HL relapsing after CT±RT. The combination of these prognostic factors defines a sizeable subgroup of patients with favorable outcome following conventional salvage therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]