Background: ABVD regimen for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), disfavoured in high-income countries, is popular in low-middle-income countries (LMIC). The feasibility/safety data for ‘non-ABVD’ protocols from LMIC is limited. Procedure: The retrospective study was conducted in a single center in India. Euronet-PHL-C1-based protocol was administered during 2010-19. A PET-CT was performed at diagnosis and following OEPA-course-2. Radiotherapy was administered for inadequate PET-response. Results: During the 10-year-period, 143 patients with HL were treated. The mean-age was 7.8±2.5 years. Bulky-disease was observed in 82 (59%). Treatment-abandonment was recorded in 13 (9.1%). The median follow-up duration was 46.4 months. An inadequate PET-response was observed in 41/118 (34.7%). Radiotherapy was administered to 23/41 (56.1%). There was a protocol violation of replacing radiotherapy in 12 (29.3%) patients with 2-courses of COPDAC. Sixty-nine episodes of febrile-neutropenia were observed in 54 patients. TRM was observed in 7 (5.3%). The majority of episodes of febrile-neutropenia (61%) and TRM (86%) were following OEPA-course-1. The 4-year overall-survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were 93.5±2.2% and 86.2±3.4%, respectively. Nine (6.3%) patients relapsed. The survival compared favorably with 5-year-EFS (77.7%) of patients who received ABVD/COPP in the center in the past. Bulky-disease lacked association with inadequate PET-response (p=0.800) or relapse (p=1.000). Conclusions: OEPA/COPDAC regimen and response assessment by PET-CT permitted therapy reduction, including radiotherapy. The survival (4-year OS: 93.5±2.2%) was excellent, with a low relapse (6.3%). Febrile neutropenia and resultant TRM (5.3%) are concerning and occurred frequently following OEPA-course-1. The support system for managing febrile neutropenia should be optimized for administering OEPA in LMIC.

Richa Jain

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Background: The majority of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) do not have access to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and dinutuximab. Consolidation with non-myeloablative chemotherapy is not well-defined, and the outcomes are variable. We report a single-center outcome of patients with HR-NB, treated with non-myeloablative consolidation. A tabulated compilation of similar reports is included. Procedure: A retrospective chart review of patients with HR-NB was performed from January 2009 till June 2016. Patients were treated on the backbone of HR-NBL1/SIOPEN protocol. Treatment included induction with rapid-COJEC, surgery, consolidation, radiotherapy to the primary tumor, and differentiation therapy with isotretinoin. Consolidation included 4 cycles of topotecan, vincristine, and doxorubicin (TVD) instead of ASCT. Infusion of vincristine and doxorubicin were modified for ease and to enable administration in daycare. Results: Over 7-½ years, 28 patients with HR-NB were treated. Two (7%) patients had therapy-related mortality. A relapse or disease progression occurred in 11 (39%) patients at a median duration of 17 months (IQR: 5, 18). Treatment abandonment was observed in 4 (14%) patients. The 4-year event-free survival was 29.3%. The median follow up of disease-free patients is 49 months (IQR: 45, 79). Patients with relapse were not treated further. Conclusions: A 4-year EFS of 29.3% was observed when 4-cycles of TVD were administered instead of ASCT in patients with HR-NB. The study and the review will aid stakeholders in LMIC for decision-making while considering the options of treatment for HR-NB if access to ACST and dinutuximab is lacking.