High-risk relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma cure: how to make the impossible possible

In the Article published in The Lancet Haematology, Alex Herrera and colleagues 1 Herrera AF Chen L Nieto Y et al. Brentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab after autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for adult patients with high-risk classic Hodgkin lymphoma: a multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2023; 10: e14-e23 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (5) Google Scholar report the results of a prospective study that aimed to assess the activity of consolidation therapy with brentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab starting 30–60 days after autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in a small cohort of 59 patients with high-risk relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma. The study, after a mean follow-up of 29·9 months, showed good outcomes in having long-term disease control in more than 90% of the patients. The study design adopted the same criteria for the definition of high-risk relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma as the randomised prospective AETHERA trial, 2 Moskowitz CH Nademanee A Masszi T et al. Brentuximab vedotin as consolidation therapy after autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma at risk of relapse or progression (AETHERA): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2015; 385: 1853-1862 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (557) Google Scholar which showed the superiority of brentuximab vedotin consolidation after autologous HSCT compared with autologous HSCT alone in long-term disease control in high-risk relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Brentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab after autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for adult patients with high-risk classic Hodgkin lymphoma: a multicentre, phase 2 trialBrentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab was highly active post-autologous HSCT consolidation for patients with high-risk relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma, most of whom had previous exposure to either brentuximab vedotin or PD-1 blockade. Combination immunotherapy in this setting should be further studied in patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma with further refinement of the regimen to mitigate toxic effects, particularly in high-risk patients in whom more intensive therapy to prevent relapse is warranted. Full-Text PDF