In a nutshell
This study evaluated long-term treatment with brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) that has come back or stopped responding to treatment. This study concluded that this treatment had a long-term benefit for some patients.
Some background
Most patients with HL respond well to initial treatment. However, some patients experience a return of the cancer (relapse), while others develop a resistance to treatment (refractory disease). These patients need other treatment options.
Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is a biological drug that targets cancer cells for destruction. Previous studies showed that short-term treatment with BV is effective for some patients with relapsed or refractory HL. Whether long-term treatment with BV is also safe and effective for these patients is unclear.
Methods & findings
58 patients with relapsed or refractory HL received treatment with BV. Patients were followed for 4 to 84 months (average 20 months).
Overall, 64% of patients responded to BV treatment. 31% of patients had no signs of cancer after treatment. 33% of patients had tumor shrinkage.
Among all patients, 26% were still alive 5 years later and 12% did not have the cancer get worse. Among patients who had no signs of cancer after BV treatment, 60% were still alive 5 years later and 32% did not have the cnacer get worse.
9% of all patients achieved a long term remission with no signs of the cancer returning. On average, patients were cancer-free for 76 months at the time of this study.
Overall, 26 patients received a stem cell transplant (SCT) after treatment. Of these, 10 patients had consolidative SCT to prolong the effects of treatment. 16 patients had salvage SCT because BV treatment was not effective.
30% of patients who had consolidative SCT were still alive 5 years later. 28% did not have the cancer get worse. 18% of patients who had salvage SCT were still alive 5 years later.
85% of patients had side effects. The most common side effects were reported in 25% of patients or more. These included fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, and muscle weakness. Vomiting, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet and low white blood cell count were also common.
The bottom line
This study concluded that BV treatment was effective for some patients with relapsed or refractory HL. The authors suggest that SCT may help prolong the effects of treatment.
The fine print
rThis study would benefit by including more patients and collecting more data about other treatments patients received after BV.
Published By :
Annals of Hematology
Date :
Dec 17, 2019
