Long-term Toxicity of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Lymphoma Survivors: Optimizing Treatment for Individual Patients

Lymphoma treatment has evolved to reflect the fact that even when cure is achieved, significant chronic or late-onset toxicity can vitiate long-term patient outcomes. Previously, the sole focus of treatment was on maximizing cure rates. Now, the emphasis is on titrating treatment intensity to retain or improve cure rates while limiting treatment-associated late effects. To accomplish this on an individual basis remains clinically challenging. Most of the agents used in the treatment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma have the potential to produce late-manifesting toxicities such as cardiac dysfunction, second malignancy, and infertility. This review outlines some of the evidence regarding late effects of chemotherapy and radiation for lymphoma, with emphasis on how understanding individual patient characteristics can affect the potential late toxicity of different treatment options.