Leukemia risk following Hodgkin's disease: relation to cumulative dose of alkylating agents, treatment with teniposide combinations, number of episodes of chemotherapy, and bone marrow damage.

Abstract

In addition to mechlorethamine, lomustine and teniposide combinations were also linked to an elevated risk of developing leukemia. Since the number of CT episodes was found to be a strong determinant of leukemia risk, it is important that new therapies for HD continue to yield high initial cure rates. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether patients at high risk for developing leukemia may be identified from the response of their platelets to initial therapy for HD.