Core Concepts
Low-risk Hodgkin lymphoma patients may not need autologous stem cell transplant for survival.
Abstract
Children and young adults with low-risk relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma may be able to skip autologous stem cell transplant. Patients who received second-line chemoimmunotherapy with nivolumab-brentuximab vedotin, with or without bendamustine, and proceeded to involved-site radiation appeared to have similar survival outcomes to those who received the chemoimmunotherapy combination plus the current second-line standard of care, which includes high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplant.
Key Highlights:
- Study suggests low-risk Hodgkin lymphoma patients may not require high-dose therapy and transplant.
- Results from the phase 2 CheckMate 744 trial presented at ASTRO annual meeting.
- Low-risk patients treated with nivolumab and brentuximab vedotin, followed by involved-site radiation.
- Standard-risk patients received the same chemoimmunotherapy combination and autologous stem cell transplant.
- Positive outcomes observed in low-risk patients without transplant.
- Treatment-related adverse events were manageable with minimal long-term toxicities.
Stats
Among 28 patients with low-risk relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, 3-year event-free survival without autologous stem cell transplant was 86.9%.
3-year progression-free survival rate for low-risk patients was 95%.
1-year progression-free survival rate for standard-risk patients who received high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplant was 91%.
Quotes
"The findings suggest that children, adolescents, and young adults with low-risk relapsed classic Hodgkin lymphoma can be salvaged with low-toxicity chemoimmunotherapy and may not require high-dose therapy and transplant for a cure." - Brad Hoppe, MD, MPH
"The results that Dr. Hoppe showed us are really, really good, and the volume of treatment is pretty tiny, so I think we can safely say that long-term toxicities are very, very minimal." - Andrea Ng, MD, MPH