In a nutshell
This study reviewed treatment options to improve the outcomes of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) treated with an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).
Some background
HL is a type of blood cancer. Patients with HL who do not respond to chemotherapy are given a transplant of their own healthy stem cells. The healthy stem cells can produce healthy blood cells. This is called an ASCT. Patients who receive ASCT often need pre- or post-transplant therapy to improve the chance of ASCT success.
There are different strategies for improving patients’ outcomes following ASCT. It is important to explore the optimal treatment strategies for these patients.
Methods & findings
This study reviewed different strategies for improving ASCT results in patients with HL. Therapy to aid the ASCT can be given before or after transplant.
Treatment options given before the ASCT include chemotherapy. Patients who responded to chemotherapy before receiving ASCT had a better outcome. Treatment with brentuximab vedotin (BV; Adcedris) before ASCT has also shows improved transplant results. With both options, patients can still experience relapse (progression of the disease).
Treatment options following ASCT are called consolidation therapy. Consolidation treatments aim to delay or prevent disease progression or relapse. BV given as consolidation therapy improved patient outcomes. In one study, patients who received BV had 43% longer survival without disease progression compared to placebo.
Other immunotherapies are now being investigated for consolidation therapy. Radiotherapy might also improve outcomes when given after ASCT.
The bottom line
This study reviewed treatment options for patients with HL at risk of relapsing after ASCT.
The fine print
Many studies involving new therapies are ongoing.
Published By :
BMC cancer
Date :
Nov 10, 2020
