An update on the treatment of unresponsive Hodgkin lymphoma.

This paper reviewed the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma unresponsive to certain treatments. The treatment guidelines for this type of Hodgkin lymphoma were then updated.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon type of cancer of the lymph nodes. Many patients are cured by treatment with chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplant involves the transfer of stem cells.  However, some patients may lose responseover time (relapsed). Others may not respond to treatment at all (refractory). New therapies such as targeted therapies and new combinations of therapies are being used to treat these patients. Targeted therapies kill only tumor cells. It is important to evaluate the treatment options which exist for relapsed/refractory (RR)HL.

Studies which investigated the effects of different therapies in patients with RR HL in adults were analysed in this study. Researchers then created new guidelines for the treatment of RR HL.

RR HL should be confirmed by studying the cancer cells under the microscope. Patients with refractory HL should receive a targeted therapy such as brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) or a new combination of chemotherapies. DHAP (dexamethasone [Dexasone], cisplatin [Platinol], high-dose cytarabine [Cytosar-U]) is a chemotherapy combination commonly used in refractory HL. Patients who respond well to these treatments should then receive high-dose therapy. This should be followed by one year of the same treatment or brentuximab vedotin treatment. If patients do not respond to the second treatment, stem cell transplant may be an option. Radiation combined with a targeted therapy may also be useful for the treatment of these patients. Patients should have tissue samples taken to diagnose unresponsive HL. Biopsy (tisssue sampling) is also required to correctly stage HL following treatment. Following this, any necessary treatments can be prescribed.

This study reviewed the recent updated guidelines for the treatment of RR HL in adults.

These guidelines were created by evaluating research on RR HL in adults. Therefore, they may not apply to the treatment of RR HL in younger or older people.

If you have questions about the managment of HL, ask your doctor.