Brentuximab Vedotin is Effective as Salvage Therapy in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma Prior to Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
Brentuximab Vedotin is Effective as Salvage Therapy in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma Prior to Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
A multicenter prospective phase II clinical trial examined the activity and toxicity of brentuximab vedotin (BV) as second-line therapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma that was relapsed or refractory after induction therapy. Investigators at City of Hope and Weill Cornell Medical College-New York collaborated to evaluate the use of BV prior to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).
The standard approach for Hodgkin lymphoma patients that relapse after first-line therapy includes cytotoxic chemotherapy followed by ASCT. However, this approach can be challenging for some patients and may be associated with some short-term and long-term toxicity.
Following treatment with a maximum of 4 cycles of BV, over two-thirds of patients responded and roughly half of the patients were able to proceed to ASCT without receiving additional chemotherapy. Treatments were well tolerated by all patients, no transfusions were required, and none of the patients developed neutropenic fevers.
The results from this trial suggest that BV may be an effective option as a first line salvage therapy. Additional studies and longer follow up will be required to confirm these results and this study may lay the groundwork for future studies with promising combinations.
http://www.bbmt.org/article/S1083-8791%2815%2900495-4/abstract
