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This article discusses the use of gemcitabine plus pembrolizumab as a treatment strategy for patients with multiply relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) who have experienced disease progression after checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The study retrospectively identified 13 patients who were treated with gemcitabine and pembrolizumab, and found that 11 patients achieved a response, including five complete responses. The addition of gemcitabine to pembrolizumab may be a potential strategy for patients with multiply relapsed HL, particularly after prior checkpoint blockade failure. However, the exact mechanism of response is unclear and further research is needed. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to highlight limitations in the use of interim PET (iPET) for treatment decisions and prognostication in the frontline management of Hodgkin's lymphoma. It reinforces the observation from the ECHELON-1 study that outcomes of patients with a positive interim PET who nonetheless continue treatment with ABVD are not as dismal as previously described. Furthermore, we describe the performance of PET positivity grading by a quantitative measure based on SUV ratios compared to the subjective Deauville scoring. Recent prospective clinical trial data suggest that patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma who continue treatment with ABVD, despite failing to attain a complete metabolic response on interim PET (PET2+), may fare better than previously published. We describe the outcomes of PET2+ patients who continued ABVD and compare the performance of a quantitative measure based on the lesion-to-liver SUV ratio (LLS qPET2+) to that of the subjective Deauville criteria (dvPET2+). We analyzed all patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma treated with frontline ABVD at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 2008 and 2017. Eligibility was set to correspond with the RATHL inclusion criteria. Images were reviewed by two nuclear medicine physicians and discordant cases were resolved with a third expert in consensus. qPET2+ was defined as LLS ≥ 1.3. We identified 227 patients of whom 25% (57) were qPET2+, but only 14% (31) were dvPET2+. Forty-eight patients (84%) continued ABVD with a 3-year PFS of 70% for qPET2+ and 64% for dvPET2+. In conclusion, interim PET interpretation in clinical practice may be associated with a higher rate of scans deemed positive. Irrespective of the criteria for PET2 positivity, a subset of patients may continue ABVD without a dismal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 71-year-old man who presented to an outside hospital in April 2011 for worsening dyspnea and mentions Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) in patients receiving allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies and breast cancer. Topics discussed include ascendingparalysis with areflexia, lymphadenopathy, immune dysregulation in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and CHEP chemotherapy.

To evaluate outcomes and prognostic markers among children with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), we conducted a retrospective analysis of 36 consecutive pediatric patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 1989 to 2013. With a median follow-up of 9.6 years, the 10-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were 74.1 and 67.1% respectively. Absence of B-symptoms, chemotherapy-sensitive disease, and transplant date after 1997 were each associated with superior EFS [HR 0.12 (p = .0015), 0.18 (p = .0039), and 0.17 (p = .0208), respectively]. Childhood Hodgkin International Prognostic Score at relapse (R-CHIPS) was calculated in a subset of patients (n = 22) and a lower score was associated with improved OS (HR 0.29, p = .0352) and a trend toward improved EFS (HR 0.38, p = .0527). In summary, ASCT results in durable remission for the majority of pediatric patients with relapsed HL. R-CHIPS should be evaluated in larger cohorts as a potential predictive tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this phase 1/2 study, brentuximab vedotin (BV) and nivolumab (Nivo) administered in combination were evaluated as initial salvage therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Patients received up to 4 cycles of combination treatment, with BV administered on day 1 and Nivo on day 8 of the first cycle. For cycles 2 to 4, BV and Nivo were both administered on day 1. After study treatment, responses were evaluated by investigators per the 2014 Lugano classification, and patients could proceed to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Sixty-two patients were enrolled; the complete response rate among all treated patients (n = 61) was 61%, with an objective response rate of 82%. Before ASCT, adverse events (AEs) occurred in 98% of patients, mostly grades 1 and 2. Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) occurred in 44% of patients overall, with 41% of patients experiencing an IRR during at least 1 infusion of BV. Five patients (8%) were treated with systemic steroids for immune-related AEs. A reduction of peripheral T-cell subsets including regulatory T cells was observed after the first dose of BV, and reduced serum levels of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine concurrent with an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were seen after the first BV plus Nivo infusions. The combination of BV plus Nivo was an active and well-tolerated first salvage regimen, potentially providing patients with R/R HL an alternative to traditional chemotherapy. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02572167. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to identify risk factors that predict functional imaging ( FI) response to salvage chemotherapy and evaluate outcomes following autologous stem cell transplant ( ASCT) in primary refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma ( HL). From 1 October 1994 to 10 July 2015, 192 primary refractory HL patients were treated on sequential second line protocols. Event-free survival ( EFS) and overall survival ( OS) were calculated from the date of histological confirmation of refractory disease. Covariates were analysed for relationship with FI response and EFS. By intent-to-treat, the median EFS was 8·9 years and OS 10·4 years with 41% having positive post-salvage FI. On multivariate analysis, the presence of B symptoms and bulk ≥5 cm predicted for positive FI, with odds ratios of 2·15 and 2·03, respectively. For the 167 (87%) transplanted patients, 60% had a negative pre- ASCT FI. Median EFS and OS were not reached with at a median follow-up of 3·6 years in surviving patients. Both stage IV refractory disease and persistent FI abnormality pre- ASCT were associated with worse outcomes: 3-year EFS was 84%, 54% and 28% for zero, 1 and 2 risk factors, respectively ( P < 0·001). Further studies are needed to validate our prognostic model and to determine optimal therapy for patients with multiple risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior series have demonstrated that early relapsed (within 1 year) or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is associated with poor prognosis. To determine the outcome for patients with early relapsed/refractory HL in the modern era, we combined data from two large transplant centres, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute (CCTCI) and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), and analysed consecutive patients transplanted for relapsed/refractory HL following induction failure or remission durations of <1 year. Two hundred and fourteen patients were analysed and the event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) at 6 years for all patients were 45% and 55%, respectively. Factors significant for prognosis in multivariate analysis were extranodal disease and bulky disease (≥5 cm). Patients with 0, 1, or 2 risk factors achieved 6 year EFS of 65%, 47%, and 24% and 6 year OS of 81%, 55%, and 27%, respectively. Patients with the sole risk factor of early relapsed/refractory disease achieved good outcomes in this large series; however the presence of bulk and/or extranodal disease significantly reduced EFS and OS. Patients with these additional risk factors are best suited for clinical trials investigating novel salvage regimens and post-transplant maintenance strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that three risk factors (RF): initial remission duration <1 year, active B symptoms, and extranodal disease predict outcome in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Our goal was to improve event-free survival (EFS) for patients with multiple RF and to determine if response to salvage therapy impacted outcome. We conducted a phase II intent-to-treat study of tailored salvage treatment: patients with zero or one RF received standard-dose ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE); patients with two RF received augmented ICE; patients with three RF received high-dose ICE with stem cell support. This was followed by evaluation with both computed tomography and functional imaging (FI); those with chemosensitive disease underwent high-dose chemoradiotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). There was no treatment-related mortality. Compared to historical controls this therapy eliminated the difference in EFS between the three prognostic groups. Pre-ASCT FI predicted outcome; 4-year EFS rates was 33% vs. 77% for patients transplanted with positive versus negative FI respectively, P = 0·00004, hazard ratio 4·61. Risk-adapted augmentation of salvage treatment in patients with HL is feasible and improves EFS in poorer-risk patients. Our data suggest that normalisation of FI pre-ASCT predicts outcome, and should be the goal of salvage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplant (HDT-ASCT) is the standard of care for relapsed and refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma; however, the role for HDT-ASCT in the treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) is controversial. In FL, phase II and randomized data support the use of HDT-ASCT in the relapsed setting and incorporation of rituximab into mobilization regimens and post-transplant maintenance appears to prolong remission durations. Allogeneic stem cell transplant remains the only curative treatment option and is appropriate for patients with high bone marrow disease burdens and refractory disease. In MCL, HDTASCT is most often administered up front, and phase II studies using intense immunochemotherapy followed by HDT-ASCT in first complete response (CR) have shown the most impressive outcomes. Complicating the situation, however, are data supporting up-front intensive immunochemotherapy without HDT-ASCT consolidation as well as a "watch and wait" strategy for selected patients. Finally, in PTCL, phase II data support treatment with HDT-ASCT in first CR, and it is rarely appropriate in the relapsed setting. Furthermore, disease status at the time of transplant likely impacts outcome; however, this needs to be evaluated further. Overall, HDT-ASCT is an important element of the treatment of relapsed FL and untreated MCL and PTCL; however, large prospective studies are needed to confirm its role and identify the most optimal induction, mobilization, and maintenance regimens for each disease. The Oncologist 2009;14:921-929 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are cured with first and second-line treatment; however, the outcome is unknown for those who fail high dose chemoradiotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant (HDT-ASCT). This report is an analysis of patients with relapsed and primary refractory HL who were treated with HDT-ASCT and failed due to progression of disease (POD). Two hundred and two patients received HDT-ASCT at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for relapsed or refractory HL between December 1994 and 2005 and 71 failed due to POD. The median survival following HDT-ASCT failure was 25 months. Only 16 (23%) of the 71 patients are currently alive, nine of whom are in remission. Multivariate analysis revealed two factors associated with poor outcome: relapse within 6 months of HDT-ASCT and primary refractory disease. The only factor associated with improved survival was the ability to receive a second transplant, in particular, reduced intensity allogeneic transplant (RIT). Novel therapies are needed for patients who fail HDT-ASCT, particularly those with primary refractory disease and those who relapse within 6 months of HDT-ASCT. Future studies should focus on prospectively evaluating RIT following HDT-ASCT failure in patients with remission duration from HDT-ASCT of >6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article of Böll and colleagues about bleomycin containing chemotherapy for older patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), which shows toxicity of 2 cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) is well tolerated in older patients than the 4 cycles ABVD. She compared younger patients to older patients with HL to know the significant outcome. She also noted the report of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG).

The article discusses the treatment of patients with refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma with monomethyl auristatin E targeted at CD30 positive tumor cells by means of brentuximb vedotin (BV). Particular attention is given to the successful treatment with BV of a woman suffering from post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Purpose: We report the long-term results of integrated accelerated involved field radiation therapy (IFRT) followed by total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) as part of the high-dose salvage regimen followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation or autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).Methods and Materials: From November 1985 to July 2008, 186 previously unirradiated patients with relapsed or refractory HL underwent salvage therapy on 4 consecutive institutional review board-approved protocols. All patients had biopsy-proven primary refractory or relapsed HL. After standard-dose salvage chemotherapy (SC), accelerated IFRT (18-20 Gy) was given to relapsed or refractory sites, followed by TLI (15-18 Gy) and high-dose chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed by Cox analysis and disease-specific survival (DSS) by competing-risk regression.Results: With a median follow-up period of 57 months among survivors, 5- and 10-year OS rates were 68% and 56%, respectively; 5- and 10-year EFS rates were 62% and 56%, respectively; and 5- and 10-year cumulative incidences of HL-related deaths were 21% and 29%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, complete response to SC was independently associated with improved OS and EFS. Primary refractory disease and extranodal disease were independently associated with poor DSS. Eight patients had grade 3 or higher cardiac toxicity, with 3 deaths. Second malignancies developed in 10 patients, 5 of whom died.Conclusions: Accelerated IFRT followed by TLI and high-dose chemotherapy is an effective, feasible, and safe salvage strategy for patients with relapsed or refractory HL with excellent long-term OS, EFS, and DSS. Complete response to SC is the most important prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multicenter pilot study assessed the safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin (BV) and AVD (adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) followed by 30 Gy involved site radiation therapy (ISRT). Patients with newly diagnosed, early stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with unfavorable-risk features were treated with 4 cycles of BV and AVD. Patients who achieved a negative positron emission tomography (PET) scan (Deauville score of 1-3) received 30 Gy ISRT. Thirty patients received treatment and were assessable for toxicity. Twenty-nine patients completed 4 cycles of BV 1 AVD, and 25 patients BV 1 AVD 1 30 Gy ISRT. No clinically significant noninfectious pneumonitis was observed. Serious adverseevents(≥grade 3)werereportedin4patients, includingfebrileneutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. After 2 and 4 cycles of BV 1 AVD, 90% (26 of 29) and 93% (27 or 29) of patients achieved a negative PET scan, respectively. Twopatientswith biopsy-proven primary refractory HL were treated off-study. All 25 patients who completed BV 1 AVD 1 ISRT achieved a complete response. With a median follow-up of 18.8 months, by intent to treat, the 1-year progression-free survival is 93.3% (95% confidence interval, 84-102). Overall, the treatment was well-tolerated with no evidence of significant pulmonary toxicity. The majority of patients (≥90%) achieved negative interim PET scans after 2 and 4 cycles of BV1AVD. Excludingthe 2 primary refractory patients, all patients are disease free, suggesting that this is a highly active treatment program even in patients with substantial disease bulk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that remission duration < 1 year, extranodal disease, and B symptoms before salvage chemotherapy (SLT) can stratify relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients into favorable and unfavorable cohorts. In addition, pre-autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) 18FDG-PET response to SLT predicts outcome. This phase 2 study uses both pre-SLT prognostic factors and post-SLT FDG-PET response in a risk-adapted approach to improve PFS after high-dose radiochemotherapy (HDT) and ASCT. The first SLT uses 2 cycles of ICE in a standard or augmented dose (ICE/aICE), followed by restaging FDG-PET scan. Patients with a negative scan received a transplant. If the FDG-PET scan remained positive, patients received 4 biweekly doses of gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and liposomal doxorubicin. Patients without evidence of disease progression proceeded to HDT/ ASCT; those with progressive disease were study failures. At a median follow-up of 51 months, EFS analyzed by intent to treat as well as for transplanted patients is 70% and 79%, respectively. Patients transplanted with negative FDG-PET, preHDT/ASCT after 1 or 2 SLT programs, had an EFS of > 80%, versus 28.6% for patients with a positive scan (P < .001). This prospective study provides evidence that the goal of SLT in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma should be a negative FDG-PET scan before HDTIASCT. The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00255723. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]