Treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma is based upon risk factors including stage and bulk of the disease, presence of symptoms at diagnosis, and the sites to which the disease has spread outside of the lymph nodes (called extranodal spread). Patients with low-stage disease are treated with a combination of anti-cancer drugs called chemotherapy. For patients with high-stage disease, more intensive chemotherapy is often used. Dr. Tanya M. Trippett, chair of the pediatric lymphoma team, is a national expert in the treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Hodgkin Committee, Chair of the Hodgkin Biology Committee, and Chair of the Hodgkin Retrieval Committee in the Children's Oncology Group. She has spearheaded the development of novel strategies for patients with a recurrence of their disease. The scope of these strategies include a variety of approaches: peripheral stem cell transplantation; strategies that eliminate chemotherapeutic agents that may cause second cancers to develop; and the incorporation of new drugs that target the lymphoma (known as targeted agents). A new focus of her research is to combine the understanding of the biology of Hodgkin's lymphoma with the development of therapeutic interventions to tailor therapy for patients with Hodgkin's Lymphoma based upon biologic risk factors or the targets expressed by the tumor.
Most patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma benefit from the addition of low-dose radiation therapy once chemotherapy is completed. Dr. Suzanne L. Wolden, the Service's pediatric radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, is a national expert in radiation therapy for the treatment of pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma. She is currently the Radiation Chair for the Intermediate Stage Children's Oncology Group Hodgkin Lymphoma protocol. She is nationally recognized for her research in the study of potential long-term complications of radiation therapy for pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma. This expertise allows her to tailor radiation therapy to each patient's needs in order to maximize cure rates and minimize long-term risk.
Long-Term Care
Our Center also provides comprehensive care to a large group of long-term survivors previously treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Counseling and treatment are provided regarding potential risks or occurrence of late effects and to address issues pertaining to quality of life for long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma. This support is provided as a collaborative approach between the oncology team and the Long-Term Follow-up Program.
