Radiographic and High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS)-Based Response Assessment after Brentuximab Vedotin (BV) Plus Ifosfamide, Carboplatin, and Etoposide (ICE) for Relapsed/Refractory (Rel/Ref) Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL): Updated Results of a Phase I/II Trial

The likelihood of long-term remission following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for rel/ref cHL is predicted by response to pre-ASCT salvage therapy (Blood 2012;119:1665-70). Salvage regimens incorporating the anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate BV, administered sequentially and concurrently with chemotherapy, show promise in improving positron emission tomography (PET)-negative complete remission (CR) rates, transplant eligibility, and outcomes (Lancet Oncol 2015;16:284-92; ASH 2015, #293; ASH 2016, #1109; ASH 2016, #1834). While pre-ASCT PET is a strong predictor of outcome, novel HTS-based assays in development imply greater sensitivity than imaging and a potential role in management and surveillance of lymphomas. Here, we report updated clinical results from our ongoing phase I/II trial (#NCT02227199) in the context of HTS-based detection of HL pre- and post-therapy, as well as circulating cytokine and tumor microenvironment markers.