Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background: This large population-based study determined the epidemiology and outcomes of secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) developing in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors.

Methods: We utilized the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 9 database to identify 104 cases of sAML.

Results: Patients with sAML (median age: 47 years; 82% <60 years) were significantly younger than de novo AML cases (66 years; p < 0.01). sAML had worse overall survival (OS) than de novo AML (p < 0.01). OS was better in younger patients and in more recent years.

Conclusion: Older patients with sAML have a dismal OS and should be enrolled in trials of novel therapies. Younger patients have improved OS and hence may benefit from curative intent intensive therapy and allogeneic transplant.