Summary of Research: Brentuximab Vedotin and Nivolumab in Combination with Chemotherapy for Nonbulky, Early-Stage Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Abstract

This is a summary of the original research article “Brentuximab Vedotin and Nivolumab in Combination with Chemotherapy for Nonbulky, Early-Stage Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma.” The phase 2 SGN35-027 study (NCT03646123) is a multiple-part clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin (BV), with nivolumab, doxorubicin, and dacarbazine (AN + AD), in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Here, we present the efficacy and safety of AN + AD from part C of this study in patients with nonbulky, early-stage cHL. At the time of this analysis, 154 patients had received ≥ 1 dose of AN + AD and 98% had received all 4 cycles of treatment. The objective response rate at end of treatment was 96%, and complete response rate was 92% (95% for the favorable subgroup; 91% for the unfavorable subgroup). The proportion of patients with complete response lasting ≥ 2 years was 96%. At a median follow-up of 27.9 months, the estimated 2-year progression-free survival rate was 97%. Any-grade and grade ≥ 3 treatment-related side effects occurred in 97% and 34% of patients, respectively. No events of febrile neutropenia were reported. Any-grade treatment-emergent immune-mediated adverse events occurred in 22% of patients. Collectively, results from this study support the use of BV and nivolumab in combination with limited chemotherapy in patients with nonbulky, early-stage cHL.