Translating Between Radiation Dose and Late Toxicity for Lymphoma Survivors: Implications on Toxicity Counseling and Survivorship

Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT) is an important modality in the modern management of lymphoma. RT has long been recognized as a cause of late toxicity in lymphoma survivors, including serious morbidity and increased mortality from second cancers and cardiovascular disease. Many studies have quantified the relationships between radiation dose to normal tissues and the risk of late toxicities. These relationships offer the opportunity to estimate future risks for patients on an individual basis. This knowledge has the potential to effect up-front management decisions regarding the use of RT, optimize radiotherapy planning for treatment, guide the evolution of future RT technologies and identify past and future patients whose risk of late toxicity is sufficient to warrant specific screening and surveillance strategies. Despite these potential applications the challenges around translating between radiation dose and accurate predictions of late toxicities are many and substantial. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge, the inherent challenges and possible directions for future research to address this area.