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Thompson, Carrie A.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4518-2309

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 261

Perinatal and Early-Life Exposures and Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Cholack, George , Kleinstern, Geffen , Robinson, Dennis P. , Thompson, Carrie A. , Call, Timothy G. , Feldman, Andrew L. , Larson, Melissa C. , Mwangi, Raphael , Ansell, Stephen M. , Novak, Anne J. , Kay, Neil E. , Slager, Susan L. , Cerhan, James R. , Cholack, George A , Habermann, Thomas , Cozen, Wendy , Slager, Susan L , Cerhan, James R , Feldman, Andrew L , Kay, Neil E , Ansell, Stephen M , Novak, Anne J , Call, Timothy G , Larson, Melissa C , Habermann, Thomas M. , Cozen, Wendy

Cancers | August 18, 2026 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 16 | Pages: 2666

10.3390/cancers18162666 Get It

Background: Perinatal and early-life factors may influence non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk, but study results have been mixed and exposure data for childhood ages are limited. Herein, we investigated associations of these exposures with risk of NHL and common subtypes. Methods: This case–control study included 2280 NHL cases and 2253 controls, enrolled from 2002 to 2014 at the Mayo Clinic Rochester. Self-reported perinatal and early-life exposures included maternal age at birth, birth order, birthweight, time breastfed, height and weight at ages 7, 12, and 18 years relative to peers, and age and weight when growth ceased. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for design variables and potential confounders. Linear trend tests were performed for ordinal variables, and heterogeneity tests were performed to evaluate whether associations varied across four NHL subtypes. Results: After multivariable adjustment, greater birth weight (OR = 1.15 for quartile 4 vs. 1; p-trend = 0.04), weight at age 7 relative to peers (compared to average, OR = 1.05 for heavy and OR = 0.87 for thin; p-trend = 0.002), and weight when growth ceased (OR = 1.30 for quartile 4 vs. 1; p-trend < 0.001) were associated with increased NHL risk. An inverse association was observed for breastfeeding duration with NHL risk (OR = 0.77 for >6 months vs. never; 95% CI 0.61–0.97). Associations did not significantly vary by major NHL subtype (p-heterogeneity > 0.05). Other perinatal and early-life exposures were not associated with NHL risk. Conclusions: Greater body weight at birth and through childhood may be associated with increased NHL risk, potentially extending the life-course perspective on adiposity and lymphomagenesis, with implications for prevention.
No Association of Prior Administration of Selected Vaccines with Lymphoma Prognosis
Cholack, George , Hinder, Verena , Mwangi, Raphael , Habermann, Thomas M. , Robinson, Dennis P. , Larson, Melissa C. , Feldman, Andrew L. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Thompson, Carrie A. , Novak, Anne J. , Witzig, T.E. , Cholack, George A , Mou, Eric , Wang, Yucai , Thompson, Carrie A , Maurer, Matthew , Novak, Anne J , Slager, Susan L , Cerhan, James R , Feldman, Andrew L , Habermann, Thomas , Larson, Melissa C , Mou, Eric , Wang, Yucai , Maurer, Matthew J. , Slager, Susan L. , Cerhan, James R.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention | June 24, 2026 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: OF1-OF3

10.1158/1055-9965.epi-26-0427 Get It

Abstract Background: Although some vaccines seem to be associated with a lower risk of lymphoma, their impact on outcomes is largely unknown. Methods: Data from a large prospective lymphoma cohort study were utilized to estimate associations of self-reported history of vaccination against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, and yellow fever with event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: None of the vaccines were associated with EFS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77–1] or OS (HRs 0.96–1.04). Similarly, there were no significant associations between the vaccines and outcomes for each lymphoma subtype. Conclusions: Prior vaccination against selected viruses was not associated with EFS or OS among patients with lymphoma. Impact: We did not find evidence for an impact of prior vaccination on lymphoma prognosis.
Family history of haematological malignancy and prognosis across non‐Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes
Cholack, George , Mwangi, Raphael , Vodička, Prokop , Habermann, Thomas M., Hinder, Verena , Robinson, Dennis P. , Feldman, Andrew L., Witzig, T.E. , Villasboas, Jose C., Ansell, Stephen M., Wang, Yucai, Thompson, Carrie A. , Slager, Susan L., Maurer, Matthew, Novak, Anne J. , Cerhan, James R., Witzig, Thomas E. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Cholack, George A , Habermann, Thomas , Ansell, Stephen M , Wang, Yucai , Slager, Susan L , Maurer, Matthew , Novak, Anne J , Cerhan, James R , Feldman, Andrew L. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Link, Brian K. , Wang, Yucai , Slager, Susan L. , Cerhan, James R.

British Journal of Haematology | March 10, 2026 | Volume: 208 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 1631-1640

10.1111/bjh.70397 Get It

Summary Family history of haematological malignancy (FHHM) reflects inherited susceptibility to non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but its prognostic significance remains poorly understood. We used a cohort study of 1994 NHL patients to evaluate associations between FHHM and clinical outcomes across lymphoma subtypes. We estimated associations, adjusted for sex and lymphoma‐specific prognostic index, of self‐reported FHHM in a first‐degree relative with overall survival (OS), event‐free survival (EFS) and lymphoma‐specific survival (LSS) using multivariable Cox regression models and with failure to achieve EFS at 24 months (EFS24) using logistic regression. FHHM prevalence was 12.8%, and the median follow‐up among survivors was 12.0 years. FHHM was not associated with OS. In subtype‐specific analyses, FHHM was associated with inferior LSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–3.53) in follicular lymphoma (FL); this association and the association with EFS24 failure strengthened among those treated with front‐line immunochemotherapy (EFS24 failure odds ratio = 2.57, 95% CI 1.08–5.99; LSS HR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.09–6.58). In mantle cell lymphoma, FHHM was associated with inferior EFS (HR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.02–2.85). Interaction testing did not demonstrate significant heterogeneity of FHHM effects by lymphoma subtype. FHHM may be associated with adverse outcomes in select NHL groups, particularly FL. These findings warrant further investigation of germline and environmental factors potentially contributing to more aggressive FLs.
Survival difference among patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL)  based on first-line clinical trial participation: A multi-institutional analysis of 8 academic institutions in the lymphoma epidemiology of outcomes (LEO) cohort
Cohen, Jonathon B. , Friedberg, Jonathan W. , Lossos, Izidore S. , Martin, Peter W., Thompson, Carrie A. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Nze, Chijioke , Andersen, Clark R. , Maurer, Matthew J. , Larson, Melissa C. , Koff, Jean L. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Martin, Peter, Kahl, Brad S. , Jaye, David L. , Feldman, Andrew L. , Cerhan, James R.

Blood | December 5, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 895-895

10.1182/blood-2025-895 Get It

Abstract Background: Despite advances in LBCL treatment, 35–45% of patients relapse or have refractory disease highlighting an unmet clinical need. Clinical trials are essential to advancing lymphoma treatment, yet participation remains low – especially among certain populations. We hypothesized that participation in clinical trials as part of first-line therapy is associated with improved survival outcomes and conducted this retrospective study in a multi-center cohort. Methods: The LEO cohort prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed patients with LBCL between 2015 and 2020 at 8 academic medical centers in the United States. LBCL histology's included T-cell/histiocyte rich LBCL, Primary mediastinal LBCL, high grade B-cell lymphoma and DLBCL NOS. Pathology was reviewed and classified by a LEO pathologist. Clinical and treatment data (including trial participation) were abstracted from medical records. The primary outcome endpoint is overall survival (OS) defines as the time from diagnosis to death from any cause or last follow up. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between OS and therapeutic trial participation. Univariable models assessed each baseline covariate, with and without interaction with trial participation. The multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, diagnosis to treatment interval [DTI], and IPI, including an interaction between IPI and trial participation which was justified per minimal Akaike information criteria. All models clustered on institution. Results: Among the 2636 patients with LBCL, the median age was 63 (range 18 – 99), 57% were male, 75% non-Hispanic white (NHW), 12% Hispanic (H) and 7.3% African American (AA), 62% had Stage III/IV disease, and 214 (8.0%) participated in a clinical trial as part of first line therapy. Overall, between ages 18 – 80, clinical trial participation increased with age (55 % in ages 18-30 vs 11% in ages 71-80) but dropped significantly for patients &gt; 80 (3.4%). There were no significant differences in the rate of trial participation by sex (male 8.6 % vs female 7.5%; p=0.35), race/ethnicity (NHW 8.9% vs H 5.5% vs AA 6.3%; p=0.061), body mass index (underweight [&lt;18.5] 4.5% vs normal [18.5-24.9] 7.7% vs overweight [25-29] 8.3% vs obese (&gt;30) 8.5; p = 0.75) or Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (Metro[1-3] 8.5% vs non-metro Urban [4-6] 7.6% vs non-metro Rural [7-9] 5.4 %; p=0.49). Patients with advanced disease more commonly participated in a trial. Most patients received systemic treatment (98%), with 94% of patients receiving an anti-CD20 antibody and 91% of patients receiving anthracycline-based therapy. Importantly, there was no difference in anthracycline use in trial participants vs nonparticipants (92 vs 91%; p=0.53). Patients with high IPI scores [3-5] were more likely to participate on trials compared to those with low scores [1-2] (8% vs 5.9% respectively, p= 0.012). Patients who participated in clinical trials had significantly longer median DTI (26 days vs 21 days; p &lt;0.0001) and had a significantly lower number of comorbidities compared to non-participants (mean 0.55 vs. 0.69; p=0.032). Among patients with low IPI (0–2), 5-year OS was 89% trial participants (CTP) compared to 82% for non-participants (CTNP). Among patients with high IPI (3–5), 5-year OS was 78% for CTP vs 60%for CTNP. The multivariable Cox model demonstrated a significant interaction between trial participation and IPI, with trial participation with low IPI having a non-significant hazard ratio (HR) of 0.87 with 95% CI (0.57,1.32), while trial participation with high IPI had a significant HR of 0.57 (0.44, 0.74). Additionally, increased age, male sex, black race, and lower DTI were associated with increased hazard. Conclusion: Patients at high risk of poor outcomes such as those with advanced age (80+), higher comorbidities burden, and those needing more urgent therapy (shorter DTI) were less likely to participate in clinical trials. In this multi-institutional cohort of patients with LBCL treated at academic centers, frontline trial participants had outcomes that were equivalent or better than those receiving standard care. These finding underscore the value of clinical trial participation even in the frontline setting and support trial designs that expand inclusion- allowing participation of patients who are older, medically complex or in need urgent therapy.
Outcomes in the 2nd decade following follicular lymphoma (FL) diagnosis: Long-term follow-up from the university of Iowa/Mayo Clinic SPORE molecular epidemiology resource (MER)
Thompson, Carrie A. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Day, Jonathan, Larson, Melissa C. , Mou, Eric , Durani, Urshila , Casulo, Carla , Tsang, Mazie , Farooq, Umar , Mondello, Patrizia , Villasboas, José C. , Syrbu, Sergei , Feldman, Andrew L. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Cerhan, James R. , Link, Brian K. , Wang, Yucai , Maurer, Matthew J.

Blood | December 5, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 1007-1007

10.1182/blood-2025-1007 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Outcomes for FL have markedly improved, and the 10-year (yr) overall survival (OS) for patients (pts) diagnosed in the rituximab era is about 80%. Historically, FL is the leading cause of death in the first decade after diagnosis (dx); however, modern outcomes beyond 10 yrs after dx remain unknown. Here we report long-term outcomes of FL from a large prospective cohort of pts with FL from the rituximab era. Methods: Pts with biopsy-proven FL 1-3A at dx were prospectively enrolled within 9 months of dx from 2002-2015 in the MER. Outcomes of interest were OS, event-free survival (EFS), histologic transformation (HT), and cause of death. HT was defined as subsequent biopsy-proven FL 3B, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, or high-grade B cell lymphoma. Analyses were performed using Cox models and KM curves; cause of death was evaluated using a competing risk approach. A subset analysis was performed in younger (18-59 yrs) vs older (60+ yrs) pts. A landmark analysis was conducted in pts alive at 10 yrs. Results: 1,155 pts with FL 1-3A were enrolled in the MER from 2002-2015. Median age at dx was 60 yrs (IQR 51-69). Clinical characteristics were: 67% stage III/IV, 12% grade 3A, 4% ECOG PS 2-4, and 19% elevated LDH. Initial management was 35% observation (obs), 12% R-monotherapy (R-mono), 39% immunochemotherapy (IC; 43% R-CHOP, 28% R-CVP, 27% BR), and 14% other. FLIPI scores were 40% low, 33% intermediate (int), and 27% high; FLIPI24 risk categories were 49% low, 25% int, and 26% high. At a median follow-up of 14 yrs (IQR 11-18 yrs), 751 events, 148 HTs, and 402 deaths were observed. EFS estimates (95% CI) were: 10-yr: 40% (37-43), 15-yr: 31% (28-35), and 18-yr: 27% (24-31). 15 yr & 18 yr EFS by initial txs were 22% (18-27) & 18% (14-25) for obs, 30% (23-40) & 18% (11-30) for R-mono, and 40% (35-46) & 38% (33-45) for IC. The incidence (95% CI) of HT was 12% (10-14) at 10 yrs, 13% (11-16) at 15 yrs, and 14% (12-17) at 18 yrs. OS (95% CI) for the entire cohort was 77% (75-80%) at 10 yrs, 63% (60-66) at 15 yrs, and 55% (51-59) at 18 yrs. The incidence of non-lymphoma-related death (non-LRD) surpassed lymphoma-related death (LRD) after 12 yrs in pts with known cause of death. Estimates (95% CI) for LRD were 11% (10-13) at 10 yrs, 14% (12-17) at 15 yrs, and 16% (14-19) at 18 yrs, while estimates for non-LRD were at 8% (7-10) at 10 yrs, 17% (15-20) at 15 yrs, and 22% (19-26) at 18 yrs. Among pts diagnosed before age 60, LRD remained the predominant cause of mortality into the second decade following dx, with incidences (95% CI) of LRD vs. non-LRD of 7% (5-9) vs 3% (2-4) at 10 yrs, 10% (8-13) vs 5% (3-8) at 15 yrs, and 13% (9-17) vs 6% (4-10) at 18 yrs, respectively. In patients age &gt;60 non-LRD was the predominant cause of mortality in the second decade. Incidence of LRD vs. non-LRD in those aged ≥60 at dx were 15% (13-19) vs 13% (10-16) at 10 yrs, 18% (15-22) vs 28% (24-32) at 15 yrs, and 20% (16-24) vs 35% (31-41) at 18 yrs, respectively. In the landmark analysis of pts alive at 10 yrs from dx (n=720), median age was 69 yrs (IQR 60-77). 63 pts (9%) had HT prior to landmark. The median number of prior treatments was 1 (IQR 1-2, range 1-8). Risk of death (95% CI) was 19% (15-22) in the next 5 yrs (i.e. 15 yrs from dx) and 29% (24-33) in the next 8 yrs (18 yrs from dx). The risk of LRD vs non-LRD was 4% (3-6) vs 12% (9-15) at 5 yrs and 7% (3-9) vs 18% (10-23) at 8 yrs.Conclusions: Long-term outcomes for pts with FL remain excellent into the second decade from dx. HT risk decreases significantly after 10 yrs, though late HTs still occur. At 15 yrs from dx, 40% of pts remained alive and event-free after 1L IC. Nearly a quarter of pts observed at dx remained treatment-free. The most common cause of death after 10 yrs from dx was from non-lymphoma causes, notably in older pts aging into their 70s and 80s. While younger pts have a lower overall risk of LRD compared to older pts, FL represents the leading cause of death in this population during the second decade following dx. These results provide critical insights into the natural history of FL diagnosed in the modern era.
Survival differences in metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan/rural counties in the US: An analysis according to rural-urban continuum codes (RUCC) in the lymphoma epidemiology of outcomes (LEO) study cohort
Ballerini, Mario, Foran, James M. , Allen, Pamela B. , Riska, Shaun M., Cohen, Jonathon B. , Martin, Peter W., Lossos, Izidore S. , Friedberg, Jonathan W. , Thompson, Carrie A. , Yost, Kathleen J. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Larson, Melissa C. , Howren, Matthew Bryant , Hildebrandt, Michelle A.T. , Maurer, Matthew J. , Slager, Susan L. , Feldman, Andrew L. , Jaye, David L. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Kahl, Brad S. , Martin, Peter, Link, Brian K. , Mou, Eric , Nze, Chijioke , Williams, Annalynn M , Cerhan, James R.

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 6324-6324

10.1182/blood-2025-6324 Get It

Abstract Background: Rural/nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) counties face known barriers to comprehensive cancer care compared with metropolitan (metro) counties, which may impact the outcomes for lymphoma patients. We evaluated the impact metro vs nonmetro status on outcomes after a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the context of clinical, demographic, and lifestyle factors. Methods: Of 7724 participants enrolled in the prospective LEO cohort study from 2015-2020, 7610 (98.5%) had their county of residence at diagnosis assigned a RUCC (2013) code. We compared outcomes of participants from metro (defined as RUCC 1-3, which are central counties with ≥1 urban areas of ≥50,000) vs nonmetro counties (RUCC 4-9, which are counties with smaller urban areas as well as completely rural). We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from univariable and multivariable Cox models for associations of metro status with overall survival (OS). Cause of death (lymphoma [including treatment related], non-lymphoma, unknown) was assessed using a competing risk approach. Results: Compared with metro counties (N=6096), LEO participants from nonmetro counties (N=1514) were older (median age 64 vs 62 years; p&lt;0.001), more likely to be non-Hispanic white (94% vs 75%; p&lt;0.001) and married (84% vs 75%; p&lt;0.001), and less likely to have completed graduate or professional school education (16% vs 27%; p&lt;0.001). There were no notable differences (&gt;5%) by metro status for sex, employment status, NHL subtype, stage, performance status, abnormal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), international prognostic index (IPI), number of comorbidities, time from diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI) or participation in a clinical trial. Compared with LEO participants from metro counties, those from nonmetro counties had inferior OS at 5 years (74.5% vs 78.4%; HR=1.23, CI 1.10-1.37; p&lt;0.001). The OS association only slightly attenuated after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity and NHL subtype (HR=1.20, CI 1.07-1.34; p=0.002), and held in models that adjusted for clinical prognostic factors (stage, NHL subtype, IPI, DTI), socioeconomic status (SES; education, marital status), health status (comorbidity, frailty), or lifestyle factors (smoking, body mass index). Using a competing risk model, the cumulative incidence of death at 5 years due to lymphoma (16.9% vs 14.1%; p=0.002) and non-lymphoma (5.9% vs 3.9%; p=0.002) was higher for participants from nonmetro vs metro counties, respectively. For participants &lt;65 years, nonmetro vs metro status had inferior OS (HR=1.40, CI 1.17-1.67; p&lt;0.001). This association remained after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity and NHL subtype (HR=1.36, CI 1.14-1.63; p&lt;0.001), as well as after adjustment for clinical prognostic, SES, health status, or lifestyle factors. The cumulative incidence of death at 5 years due to lymphoma was higher in participants from nonmetro vs metro counties (15.1% vs 11.5%; p=0.002), while there was no difference by metro status for non-lymphoma related deaths (2.1% vs 1.7%; p=0.47). In contrast, for participants age 65+ years, there was no differences by metro status for OS (HR=1.04, CI 0.91-1.20; p=0.56). After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity and NHL subtype, participants from nonmetro areas had inferior OS (HR=1.12, 0.97-1.29) although this was not statistically significant (p=0.13), and was attenuated in models adjusting for clinical, health status, or lifestyle factors. The cumulative incidence of death at 5 years due to lymphoma was no different in participants from nonmetro vs metro counties (18.9% vs 18.0%; p=0.37), while non-lymphoma related deaths were higher in nonmetro counties (9.9% vs 6.8%; p=0.017). Conclusion: LEO participants from nonmetro vs metro counties had inferior OS overall, although this was predominately observed for younger (&lt;65 years) participants. These associations did not appear to be explained by demographic, NHL subtype, clinical, SES, health status, or lifestyle factors. Of particular note, the risk of death due to lymphoma was higher in nonmetro areas for participants &lt;65 years but not those 65+ years, while the risk of death due to other causes was higher in nonmetro areas for participants 65+ years but not those &lt;65 years. These findings require further study, particularly related to barriers to care, and suggest the potential need for age-specific strategies to optimize outcomes for NHL patients from nonmetro/rural areas.
Predictive performance of the LEO comorbidity index in patients aged 80+ years with large B-cell lymphoma
Vodička, Prokop , Masar, Michal, Thompson, Carrie A. , Benešová, Kateřina , Lossos, Izidore S. , Polgárová, Kamila , Kořen, Jan , Cohen, Jonathon B. , Sálková, J, Kovařı́ková, Petra, Cahn, Elliot, Konířová, Eva , Dlouhá, Jitka, Patel, Dilan A. , Blahovcová, Petra, Friedberg, Jonathan W. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Maláriková, Diana , Williams, Annalynn M , Nze, Chijioke , Feldman, Andrew L. , Karban, Josef , Mou, Eric , Martin, Peter, Tsang, Mazie , Reagan, Patrick Michael , Jaye, David L. , Klánová, Magdalena , Klener, Pavel , Maurer, Matthew J. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Trněný, Marek , Cerhan, James R.

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2741-2741

10.1182/blood-2025-2741 Get It

Abstract Introduction The LEO Comorbidity Index (LCI), comprising ten equally weighted comorbidity categories (respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, renal, autoimmune, diabetes, cancer history, HIV, and stroke), has demonstrated prognostic utility in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas. However, its predictive accuracy may vary with increasing age, due to age-related rises in comorbidity burden and physiological vulnerability. To investigate these dynamics, we evaluated the age-stratified predictive performance of LCI in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), with a focused analysis on individuals aged 80+ years. We also examined which specific comorbidities most strongly influenced overall survival (OS) and developed a simplified, clinically applicable index tailored to this population. Methods We first included adults ≥40 years with newly diagnosed LBCL and recorded comorbidities from the LEO registry (USA, 2015–2020; n=1,652) to assess age-stratified predictive performance of LCI using the C-index. Next, we focused on patients 80+ years (n=263), pooled from the LEO cohort (n=147) and NiHiL registry (restricted to General Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic, 2010–2023; n=116). Comorbidities were collected from patient self-reports (LEO) and/or medical records (LEO/NiHiL). Univariate and multivariate Cox models were used. The primary endpoint was OS. Results Among the total LBCL population (n=1,652), LCI predictive performance improved by age category with C-index for patients &lt;65 of 0.584, 65–79 years 0.579, and ≥80 years 0.647, indicating stronger discrimination in the 80+ group. Subsequent analysis focused on patients aged 80+ years (n=263; median age 83). Within this cohort, 34% had ECOG performance status (PS) 2–4, 66% stage III–IV disease, 59% elevated lactate dehydrogenase, 35% &gt;1 extranodal site involved, and 58% International Prognostic Index (IPI) score of 3–5. A total of 377 comorbidities were reported, averaging 1.43 per patient (1.22 in LEO; 1.61 in NiHiL). LCI distribution was: 0 points in 24% (n=62), 1 point in 33% (n=88), and 2–5 points in 43% (n=113). Higher LCI scores had worse ECOG PS 2–4: 19% (LCI=0), 33% (LCI=1), and 43% (LCI ≥2; P=0.01), and inferior OS (median 6.9 years LCI=0, 3.0 years LCI=1, and 2.8 years LCI≥2, resp.; P=0.02). Presence of ≥1 comorbidity was associated with shorter OS compared to no comorbidities (HR=1.67, P=0.01). The LCI was an independent predictor of OS after adjusting for age (HR=1.18, P=0.01, C-index 0.623), IPI (HR=1.16, P=0.03, C-index 0.628) as well as for recently proposed SENIOR-IPI (HR=1.14, P=0.049, C-index 0.665). When evaluating individual comorbidities, heart disease (HR=1.54, P=0.01), stroke (HR=1.89, P=0.03), and recent malignancy (HR=1.99, P=0.02) were independent predictors of OS. Based on these findings, we developed a simplified LCI (sLCI) for use in 80+ patients incorporating only the three comorbidities (1 point each). Patients were categorized as sLCI: 0 (49%, n=129), 1 (44%, n=115), and 2–3 points (7%, n=19). sLCI scores 0, 1, 2–3 were associated with ECOG PS 2–4 27%, 37%, and 63%, respectively (P=0.01) and inferior OS: median 5.3 years (0), 2.5 years (1), and 1.4 years (2–3; P&lt;0.01). sLCI remained an independent and strong predictor of OS after adjusting for age (HR=1.71, P&lt;0.01, C-index 0.636), IPI (HR=1.66, P&lt;0.01, C-index 0.635), and SENIOR-IPI (HR=1.60, P&lt;0.04, C-index 0.659). The results were consistent in both NiHiL and LEO cohorts and remained significant among patients treated with anthracyclines (sLCI adjusted for age: HR=1.58, P&lt;0.01, C-index 0.607; for IPI: HR=1.53, P=0.01, C-index 0.623; for SENIOR-IPI: HR=1.51, P=0.01, C-index 0.633). Conclusion Comorbidity burden becomes increasingly prognostic with higher age in LBCL patients. In the 80+ individuals, comorbidities – particularly heart disease, recent cancer, and stroke – have an independent impact on OS. While the original LCI captures the impact of broadly defined comorbidities, its prognostic utility attenuates in the 80+ patients, likely reflecting limited relevance of indolent chronic conditions in this population's constrained survival horizon. The sLCI, focused on the most prognostically relevant comorbidities, offers practical risk stratification. Incorporation of sLCI into clinical decision-making – alongside other prognostic indices – could better identify high-risk individuals and guide treatment strategies. Funding: NU21-03-00411, U01 CA195568.
Adaptation and Performance of the Self‐Report‐Generated Charlson Comorbidity Index in the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes (LEO) Cohort
Cerhan, James R. , Соколова, Т. Н. , Cahn, Elliot, Tsang, Mazie , Strouse, Christopher , Hildebrandt, Michelle A.T. , Feldman, Andrew L. , Jaye, David L. , Martin, Peter , Cohen, Jonathon B. , Lossos, Izidore S. , Friedberg, Jonathan W. , Thompson, Carrie A. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Sokolova, Tereza, Cahn, Elliott J, Strouse, Christopher S , Rosenthal, Allison , Feldman, Andrew L , Jaye, David L , Martin, Peter , Cohen, Jonathon B , Kahl, Brad S , Lossos, Izidore S , Friedberg, Jonathan W , Nastoupil, Loretta J , Link, Brian K , Habermann, Thomas , Maurer, Matthew , Casulo, Carla , Thompson, Carrie A , Williams, Annalynn M , Flowers, Christopher R , Cerhan, James R , Hildebrandt, Michelle A T , Tsang, Mazie , Sokolova, Tereza, Kahl, Brad S. , Nastoupil, Loretta J. , Link, Brian K. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Maurer, Matthew J. , Casulo, Carla

Hematological Oncology | October 8, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 6 | Pages: No page available

10.1002/hon.70137 Get It

ABSTRACT Newly diagnosed patients with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) often have a history of other diseases, and these comorbidities can impact patient treatment and management options, as well as overall survival (OS). We developed the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes (LEO) comorbidity index (LCI) as a sum of 10 comorbidities adapted from the Self‐Report‐Generated Charlson Comorbidity Index (SRG‐CCI) for use in the LEO cohort, a national prospective study of newly diagnosed NHL. Of the 5502 participants with self‐reported comorbidity data, 3107 (56.4%) were male and the mean age at diagnosis was 60.9 years (range, 18–99 years). The LCI ranged from 0 to 6, with 48.6% having 0, 30.2% having 1, 21.2% having 2 or more comorbidities. With a median follow‐up of 62.4 months among surviving participants, 2099 patients had an event and 1219 died. Continuous LCI similarly predicted both 1‐year mortality (c‐statistic = 0.654) and OS (c‐statistic = 0.655), while it showed a weaker but still statistically significant predictive ability for lymphoma‐specific (c‐statistics = 0.617) and event‐free (c‐statistic = 0.574) survival. Participants with 1 (HR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.05–1.39) and 2+ (HR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.56–2.08) comorbidities had inferior OS compared to those with no comorbidities after adjustment for age and sex (c‐statistic = 0.654), and performance strengthened after adjustment for the International Prognostic Index (c‐statistic = 0.672). LCI predicted OS most strongly in marginal zone (c‐statistics = 0.748) and weakest in T‐cell (c‐statistic = 0.579) lymphoma. The cumulative incidence of death due to lymphoma, lymphoma treatment, and other causes all increased with increasing comorbidities, with the greatest increase observed for death due to other causes. The LCI performs comparable to other published comorbidity indices, supporting its use in the LEO cohort to better model real‐world outcomes and more generally providing an approach to implementing comorbidity indices in cancer survivorship cohorts.
PROs vs clinician-reported adverse events in a large clinical trial: findings from the phase 3 POLARIX study
Thompson, Carrie A. , Trněný, Marek , Morschhauser, Franck , Salles, Gilles , Reagan, P. M., Hertzberg, Mark P. , Zhang, Huilai , Thiéblemont, Catherine , Fonseca, Gustavo , Kim, W., Singh, Avrita, Yan, Mark, Hirata, Jamie , Sugidono, Matthew , Lee, Calvin , Sharman, Jeff P. , Mehta–Shah, Neha , Flowers, Christopher R. , Tilly, Hervé , Chua, Neil , Miall, Fiona , Tsai, Cheng‐Hong , Friedberg, Jonathan W. , Thompson, Carrie, Hu, Bei , Hirata, Jamie , Mehta-Shah, Neha , Flowers, Christopher R , Casasnovas, René-Olivier , Miall, Fiona , Kim, Tae Min , Tsai, Xavier Cheng-Hong , Salles, Gilles A , Morschhauser, Franck , Trnĕný, Marek , Hertzberg, Mark, Hu, Bei , Martelli, Maurizio , Mehta, Amitkumar , Singh, Avrita, Casasnovas, Olivier , Nasta, Sunita , Lee, Seung‐Tae

Blood | September 25, 2025 | Volume: 147 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 254-265

10.1182/blood.2025028848 Get It

Abstract Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) poses a challenge in hematology given its varied symptoms, and the complex interplay between disease and treatment effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The phase 3 POLARIX study demonstrated superior progression-free survival and a similar safety profile with polatuzumab vedotin plus rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (Pola-R-CHP) vs R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) in patients with previously untreated DLBCL. Here, we evaluate HRQoL through patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments to fully characterize the patient experience in the POLARIX study. Changes from baseline in HRQoL, lymphoma symptoms, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were assessed, as well as incidence and severity of common symptoms by PROs vs clinician-reported adverse events (AEs). Baseline characteristics of PRO-evaluable patients (N = 874) were consistent. Comparison between PROs and clinician-reported AEs revealed a notable discordance; patients generally reported a higher incidence of symptoms than clinicians, emphasizing the need for patient-centric tools to accurately capture the patient experience. Both treatments exhibited rapid and sustained improvements in HRQoL and lymphoma symptoms, with the most substantial improvements seen in global health status/QoL, lymphoma symptoms, fatigue, role, emotional, and social functioning. GI symptoms (diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting) were generally similar between treatment arms and returned to baseline levels after treatment completion. These HRQoL data underscore the complementarity of PROs, as an adjunct to clinician-reported AEs, in evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of new treatments, including Pola-R-CHP, which may represent a new benchmark for patient-reported HRQoL in previously untreated DLBCL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03274492.