Novel treatments for patients with relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma following autologous stem cell transplantation

This study examined the effect of new treatments for patients who have relapsed after an autologous stem cell transplantation. The authors concluded that patients treated with new therapies, including brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), have significantly better outcomes.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is generally considered a curable disease. However, some cases are difficult to cure. One therapy used in patients who have difficult to treat (refractory) HL is an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT; using the patient’s own stem cells). Some patients will relapse after ASCT therapy. Historically, the outcomes of these patients have been poor.

In clinical trials, new treatments, such as brentuximab vedotin, have been shown to improve patient outcomes. Brentuximab vedotin is a therapy that targets a protein involved in cancer cell growth. Other new therapies, such as nivolumab (Opdivo), help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. More research is needed of the “real world” impact of these new treatments. 

The medical records of 87 patients were reviewed. All patients had a relapse of their HL after receiving an ASCT. The average follow-up time was 71.9 months after relapse following ASCT.

31.8% of patients received at least one new therapy. 26.4% received brentuximab vedotin, 6.9% received nivolumab, 5.8% received lenalidomide, and 5.8% received panobinostat.

The average overall survival (time from disease progression to death from any cause) for the whole group was 26.1 months. The average overall survival for patients who received treatment with a new therapy was 85.6 months. This was significantly better than the overall survival for patients who did not receive a new therapy (17.1 months).

Patients treated with radiotherapy after ASCT had significantly better overall survival (34.1 months) compared to patients who did not receive radiotherapy after ASCT (17.0 months).

The authors concluded that HL patients who were treated with a new therapy (brentuximab vedotin, nivolumab, etc.) after relapse following ASCT had significantly better outcomes than patients who were not treated with a new therapy.