Characteristics, combinations, treatments, and survival of second primary hematological neoplasm: a retrospective single-center cohort of 49 patients ( Hemo 2 study )

The coexistence of dual hematological neoplasms is very rare. Sequential or synchronous neoplasms in hematology are an uncommon and complex clinical situation. The aim of the Hemo 2 study was to describe the clinical characteristics and analyze the outcome of these patients. We performed a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with sequential or synchronous hematological malignancies in the university hospital of Tours, between 2007 and 2018. We identified 49 patients in our study, with a prevalence of 0.89%. Sequential and synchronous combinations were found in 36 (73%) and 13 (27%) patients, respectively. One patient presented three sequential neoplasms. The median cumulative incidence was 6 years (95% CI 3–7). Among all neoplasms diagnosed ( n = 99), we found 79 lymphoid neoplasms (LNs) (80%) and 20 myeloid neoplasms (MNs) (20%). Sex ratio was 1.88 with 65% of males and 35% of females. The most common LNs were Hodgkin lymphoma ( n = 16; 16%) and multiple myeloma ( n = 11; 11%). The most frequent MN was essential thrombocythemia ( n = 5; 5%). The most common combination was Hodgkin lymphoma and follicular lymphoma in five (10%) patients. The overall survival from the first diagnosis (OS1) at 5 years was 82.4% (95% CI 72.1–94.3). The median overall survival from the second diagnosis (OS2) was 98 months (95% CI 44–NR) and 5-year OS2 was 58.7% (95% CI 45.5–75.7). Median progression-free survival from the second diagnosis (PFS) was 47 months (95% CI 27–NR) with 5-year PFS of 49% (95% CI 35.9–67). OS and PFS did not statistically differ between synchronous and sequential dual neoplasms. In this cohort, that the death relative risk (RR) was significantly lower if the second neoplasm appeared after more than 4 years following the first diagnosis (OR 0.37 (95% CI 0.16–0.90)). The Hemo 2 study confirmed the rarity of dual hematological neoplasms. In this cohort, HL and FL were the most frequent combinations. Our results may support that synchronous and sequential dual neoplasms bear the same prognosis. Further studies are needed to better characterize these uncommon clinical situations.