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Posted by on Aug 22, 2021 in Hodgkin's lymphoma | 0 comments

In a nutshell

This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety outcomes of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus GVD (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and liposomal doxorubicin) as second-line therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The data showed that the pembrolizumab plus GVD combination is safe and highly effective for these patients.

Some background

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a cancer of white blood cells. Most patients with cHL respond to first-line chemotherapy regimens. However, up to 25% of patients experience relapse (worsening of the disease) or refractory (not responsive to the treatment) disease. These patients can benefit from second-line therapies.

Chemotherapy combinations such as GVD can be used as second-line therapies. Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy that helps the immune system detect and find cancer cells. Some cancer cells have on their surface proteins, such as PD-L1 that binds to PD-1 protein which helps them avoid detection from the immune system. Pembrolizumab blocks the PD-1 protein, and this inhibition triggers the immune system to attack tumor cells and kills them. The safety and effectiveness of pembrolizumab plus GVD chemotherapy combination as second-line therapy for patients with r/r cHL are still under investigation.

Methods & findings

This study involved 39 patients with r/r cHL. 31 patients received 2 cycles of pembrolizumab plus GVD combination. 8 patients received 4 cycles of pembrolizumab plus GVD combination. After treatment, the patients proceeded to receive high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HDT/AHCT). ASCT involves transplanting healthy stem cells from the same patient. The average follow-up time after HDT/AHCT was 13.5 months.

Overall, 100% of the patients responded to the treatment. The complete response rate (complete disappearance of cancer cells) was 95%. 95% of patients proceeded to HDT/AHCT and all of these transplanted patients were in remission at follow-up.

The most common side effects were low white blood cell counts, rash, inflammation of the thyroid gland, increase in liver enzymes.

The bottom line

This study concluded that second-line therapy with pembrolizumab plus GVD combination was a safe and highly effective treatment in patients with r/r cHL.

The fine print

This study was funded by Merck, the manufacturers of pembrolizumab. Larger studies with a longer follow-up are needed to confirm the effectiveness of pembrolizumab plus GVD combination.

Published By :

Journal of clinical oncology

Date :

Jun 25, 2021

Original Title :

Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab Plus Gemcitabine, Vinorelbine, and Liposomal Doxorubicin as Second-Line Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma.

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