Brentuximab vedotin and bendamustine before stem cell transplant in relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma

This study aimed to investigate the real-world safety and effectiveness of brentuximab vedotin (BV) and bendamustine before stem cell transplant (SCT) for patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). 

This study concluded that this treatment is safe and effective as a salvage option for these patients.  

Up to 30% of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) do not respond to frontline therapy or relapse after primary treatment. For these patients, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is the standard treatment option. AHSCT involves taking stem cells from the patient that will replace the cancerous blood cells destroyed by powerful anti-cancer therapy. 

Salvage treatment is one given after an initial treatment fails. Brentuximab vedotin (BV; Adcedris) and bendamustine (B; Treanda) has shown to be an effective salvage regimen in clinical trials for patients with relapsed or unresponsive cHL. However, if BV+B was a safe and effective salvage treatment before AHSCT in the real world setting for patients with hard to treat cHL remains under investigation.  

This study involved 41 patients with relapsed or unresponsive cHL. Patients received at least 1 cycle of BV+B and underwent AHSCT after this. Patients were followed up for 3 years. 

After an average of 3 cycles of BV+B, the response rate was 78%. Of these patients, 70.7% achieved complete remission. Overall, 92.6% of patients responded to treatment. 21.9% had partial responses (reduction of the cancer). 

29.3% of patients relapsed after AHSCT. The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) after AHSCT was 93%. 62% of patients were alive with no progression of the disease after 2 years.  

58.5% of all patients experienced side effects. The most common were low white blood cells (17%), numbing or tingling in the legs (12.2%), and infusion-related reactions (12.2%). No life-threatening side effects were reported. 

This study concluded that BV+B followed by AHSCT is a safe and effective salvage treatment option for patients with cHL in the real-world setting.  

This study had a very small number of participants and was based on medical records. Some information might have been missing. Further studies are needed.