Incidence and time trends of second primary malignancies after non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a Swedish population-based study

Considering treatment changes and an improved prognosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) over time, knowledge regarding long-term health outcomes, including late effects of treatment, has become increasingly important. We report on time trends of second primary malignancies (SPMs) in Swedish NHL patients, encompassing the years before as well as after the introduction of anti-CD20 antibody therapy. We identified NHL patients in the Swedish Cancer Register 1993 to 2014 and matched comparators from the Swedish Total Population Register. The matched cohort was followed through 2017. By linking to the Swedish Lymphoma Register, subcohort analyses by NHL subtype were performed. Flexible parametric survival models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of SPM among patients and comparators. Among 32 100 NHL patients, 3619 solid tumors and 217 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases were observed, corresponding to a 40% higher rate of solid tumors (HRsolid tumors = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.4-1.5) and a 5-fold higher rate of MDS/AML (HRMDS/AML = 5.2; 95% CI, 4.4-6.2) than for comparators. Overall, the observed excess risks for solid tumors or MDS/AML remained stable over the study period, except for follicular lymphoma, where the excess rate of MDS/AML attenuated with time (P for trend = .012). We conclude that NHL survivors have an increased risk of both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, in particular MDS/AML. Stable excess risks over time indicate that contemporary treatment standards are not associated with modified SPM risk. Encouragingly, decreasing rates of MDS/AML were noted among patients with follicular lymphoma, possibly due to the increasing use of nonchemotherapy-based treatments.

Automated summary

Considering the changes in treatment and prognosis for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), understanding long-term health outcomes and treatment-related complications has become increasingly important. This study investigates the time trends of second primary malignancies (SPMs) in Swedish NHL patients, both before and after the introduction of anti-CD20 antibody therapy. The findings indicate that NHL survivors have a higher risk of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, particularly myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia. The study also suggests that modern treatment standards are not associated with modified SPM risk, but nonchemotherapy-based treatments may help reduce the risk of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia in follicular lymphoma patients.