Risk factors predicting outcomes for primary refractory hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with salvage chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant as first salvage treatment for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma in the era of PET-adapted strategies

Data on the efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients who failed a PET-driven first-line therapy are limited.We retrospectively evaluated 220 adult cHL patients who underwent ASCT from 2009 to 2021 at 11 centers in Italy. Overall, 49.5% had refractory disease, 23.2% relapsed < 12 and 27.3% ≥12 months from the end of first-line chemotherapy. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 73.8% and 89.4%. In univariable analysis for PFS events PET-2+ (HR 2.69, p = .001), anemia (HR 2.22, p = .019), refractory disease (HR 1.76, p = .045), less than CR before ASCT (HR 3.24, p < .001) and >2 lines of salvage therapy (HR 2.52; p = .004) were associated with a higher risk of failure after ASCT. In multivariable analysis, >2 lines of salvage therapy (HR 3.28, p = .004) and RT before ASCT (HR 3.00, p = 0.041) retained significance.ASCT is an effective salvage approach for cHL patients treated in the era of PET-adapted therapies.

Overall survival of patients with cHL who progress after autologous stem cell transplant: results in the novel agent era

In the pre-novel agent era, the median postprogression overall survival (PPS) of patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who progress after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) was 2 to 3 years. Recently, checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) and brentuximab vedotin (BV) have improved the depth and durability of response in this population. Here, we report the estimate of PPS in patients with relapsed cHL after ASCT in the era of CPI and BV. In this multicenter retrospective study of 15 participating institutions, adult patients with relapsed cHL after ASCT were included. Study objective was postprogression overall survival (PPS), defined as the time from posttransplant progression to death or last follow-up. Of 1158 patients who underwent ASCT, 367 had progressive disease. Median age was 34 years (range, 27-46) and 192 were male. Median PPS was 114.57 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 91-not achieved) or 9.5 years. In multivariate analysis, increasing age, progression within 6 months, and pre-ASCT positive positron emission tomography scan were associated with inferior PPS. When adjusted for these features, patients who received CPI, but not BV, as first treatment for post-ASCT progression had significantly higher PPS than the no CPI/no BV group (hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.6-7.8; P = .001). Receipt of allogeneic SCT (Allo-SCT) did not improve PPS. In the era of novel agents, progressive cHL after ASCT had long survival that compares favorably with previous reports. Patients who receive CPI as first treatment for progression had higher PPS. Receipt to Allo-SCT was not associated with PPS in this population.

Hodgkin lymphoma: Focus on evolving treatment paradigms

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a highly curable B-cell malignancy of germinal center origin. Biologically it is a hematologic malignancy that is highly dependent on the immune microenvironment and utilizes immune escape through upregulation of the programmed-death ligands on the neoplastic cells. Despite being highly curable, consensus is lacking nationally and internationally about the optimal approach to management, particularly in limited-stage disease. The addition of brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors for the management of HL has led to a rapidly changing treatment landscape. Further studies should be done to include these novel agents at all stages of disease to determine improvements in frontline cure rates and long-term toxicity.

Impact of risk factors and long term survival analysis of patients with primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma who underwent high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant

BACKGROUND

Patients with primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (ref-HL) can still be salvaged with high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). Outcome of patients with ref-HL is poorer than those with relapsed HL, but most studies have included patients with both relapsed and refractory diseases, and separate analyses or studies on patients with ref-HL are limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of HDC auto-SCT and impact of various prognostic factors on patients with ref-HL both at the time of primary treatment failure and also on subsequent survival at the time of failure post HDC auto-SCT.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective, single-institution, cohort analysis using HDC and auto-SCT database, approved by the Institutional Research Advisory Counsel and Ethics Committee for identifying patients. We used Fine and Gray competing risk analysis method, regression model for outcome analysis and Kaplan-Meier method (KM) for survival.

RESULTS

Two hundred consecutive ref-HL patients underwent HDC auto-SCT between 1996 to 2019. Median age was 22.75 years, median follow-up 106 months. Post auto-SCT, disease status was complete remission (CR), partial remission, and progressive disease in 122 (61%), 22 (11%), and 47 (23.5%) patients, respectively. KM median progression-free survival (PFS) after auto-SCT was 43.9 months (5:10 years, 49.3%:45.5%). Median overall survival (OS) was 168.6 months (5:10 years, 61.2%:56.2%). Eighty-five patients (44.5%) died - 69 (34.5%) due to disease. For both PFS and OS, multivariate analysis identified similar adverse factors. For PFS, stage III-IV at relapse (HR=1.65, P=0.045), mediastinal involvement (HR=2.01, P=0.009), and no CR after salvage chemotherapy (HR=2.2, P=0.001) as adverse factors. PFS with 0-1 (not reached), 2 (40.8), 3 adverse factors (5.4 months) were significant (p<0.001). For OS, stage III-IV at relapse (HR=1.68, P=0.045), mediastinal involvement (HR=2.52, P=0.007), and no CR after salvage chemotherapy (HR=2.15, P=0.004) were significant. OS with 0-1 (not reached), 2 (148.5) 3 adverse factors (34.4 months) were significant (p<0.001). Median OS after auto-SCT failure was 23.6 months; patients received post auto-SCT brentuximab/second SCT (not reached), other treatments (22.5 months), and supportive care (8.4) (p<0.001). OS with five risk factors, present at HDC auto-SCT failure, (stage III-IV, failure <12 months, tumor >5 cm, B-symptoms, low albumin) showed that 0-1:2:3-5 risk factors had 152:30.9:9.45 months OS (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Ref-HL patients have encouraging survival after HDC auto-SCT and can even be salvaged after auto-SCT failure. Based on prognostic factors, survival prediction is possible. Patients who fail to respond to HDC auto-SCT may benefit from newer treatments strategies and may qualify for enrollment in clinical trials.

Checkpoint inhibitor-based salvage regimens prior to autologous stem cell transplant improve event-free survival in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma

Clinical trials of novel salvage therapies have encouraging outcomes for relapsed/refractory transplant-eligible classic Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R cHL) but comparison with conventional chemotherapy is lacking. Herein, we report the final analysis of a multicenter retrospective cohort of R/R cHL assessing outcomes by type of salvage therapy before autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). R/R cHL patients who underwent ASCT at 14 institutions across the United States were included. Outcomes were compared among patients receiving conventional chemotherapy, brentuximab vedotin (BV) + chemotherapy, BV alone, and a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-based regimens before ASCT. Study endpoints included event-free survival (EFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). All endpoints are defined from relapse. Of 936 patients, 728 received conventional chemotherapy, 73 received BV + chemotherapy, 70 received BV alone, and 65 received CPI-based regimens prior to ASCT. When adjusted for time to relapse, pre-ASCT response and use of BV maintenance, patients receiving CPI-based regimens had superior 2-year EFS compared to conventional chemotherapy, BV + chemotherapy, and BV alone (79.7, 49.6, 62.3, and 36.9%, respectively, p < .0001). Among 649 patients transplanted after 1 line of salvage therapy, CPI-based regimens were associated with superior 2-year PFS compared to conventional chemotherapy (98% vs. 68.8%, hazard ratio: 0.1, 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.5, p < .0001). OS did not differ by pre-ASCT salvage regimen. In this large multicenter retrospective study, CPI-based regimens improved EFS and PFS compared to other salvage regimens independent of pre-ASCT response. These data support earlier sequencing of CPI-based regimens in R/R cHL in the pre-ASCT setting.

Favorable outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with fludarabine-bendamustine conditioning and posttransplantation cyclophosphamide in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for patients with relapsed and refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (rrHL). However, the optimal conditioning regimen and GVHD prophylaxis for rrHL remain undetermined. The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes of allo-HSCT with a fludarabine plus bendamustine (FluBe) conditioning regimen and GVHD prophylaxis with posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCY) in patients with rrHL.

METHODS

Allo-HSCT results in 58 adult patients with rrHL were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Three-year overall survival and event-free survival were 81% (95% CI 65-91) and 55% (95% CI 38-72), respectively. The cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) at 3 years was 33% (95% CI 13-51). The cumulative incidence of aGVHD grade II-IV and severe aGVHD grade III-IV was 36% (95% CI 22-48) and 22% (95% CI 9-33), respectively. The cumulative incidence of cGVHD was 32% (95% CI 17-45), including moderate or severe cGVHD in 17% (95% CI 4-28). Patients who developed aGVHD after allo-HSCT had significantly lower CIR (24% vs 49%, p = 0.004). The use of PBSC as a graft source also significantly reduced CIR (4% vs 61%, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

FluBe-PTCY allo-HSCT facilitates favorable outcomes, low toxicity, and mortality in rrHL.

Future directions in Hodgkin lymphoma: checkpoint inhibitors and beyond

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is curable with chemotherapy but relapses occur in approximately 30% of cases. Novel agents, including brentuximb vedotin (BV) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have encouraging activity in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory cHL, confirming that the use of agents that target tumor cells or the tumor microenvironment are promising strategies to improve patient outcomes. The field of immunotherapy in cHL is now moving toward combinations of PD-1 inhibitors with other immunological agents such as cytotoxic T- lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, newer PD-1 inhibitors such as sintilimab, tislelizumab, avelumab and camrelizumab, bispecific antibodies such as AFM-13, cellular therapies using CD30 chimeric antigen T-cells (CD30.CART) and anti-CD25 antibody-drug conjugates such as camidanlumab tesirine (cami-T). Here we review early phase studies evaluating these approaches in the treatment of cHL.

Allo-HSCT in transplant-naïve patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: a single-arm, multicenter study

We evaluated the role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in transplant-naïve patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) who failed to attain metabolic complete response (mCR) to 1 to 2 lines of salvage chemotherapyThose with residual but nonprogressive disease assessed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanning were eligible. An additional 1 to 2 cycles of salvage therapy were permissible in those with progressive disease or when required to bridge to allo-HSCT, with additional imaging at baseline before transplantation. Conditioning consisted of carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan, and alemtuzumab. Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) were administered for mixed chimerism or residual or relapsed disease. Eleven patients had sibling donors, 13 had HLA-matched unrelated donors, and 7 had HLA-mismatched unrelated donors. There were no graft failures, and no episodes of grade 4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); only 19.4% of patients had grade 2 to 3 GVHD, and 22.2% had extensive chronic GVHD. The non-relapse mortality rate was 16.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1%-34.5%). Relapse incidence was 18.7% (95% CI, 8.2%-39.2%). The study met its primary objective, with a 3-year progression-free survival of 67.7% (95% CI, 48.4%-81.2%). Survival outcomes were equivalent in those with residual metabolically active disease immediately before transplantation (n = 24 [70.8%; 95% CI, 17.2%-83.7%]). Two of the 5 patients who relapsed received DLI and remained in mCR at latest follow-up, with a 3-year overall survival of 80.7% (95% CI, 61.9%-90.8%). We demonstrate encouraging results that establish a potential role for allo-HSCT in selected high-risk patients with HL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00908180.

Comparison of Interim PET Response to Second-Line Versus First-Line Treatment in Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: Contribution to the Development of Response Criteria for Relapsed or Progressive Disease

In first-line treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), Deauville scores 1-3 define complete metabolic remission. Interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET is also used for relapse-treatment adaptation; however, PET response criteria are not validated for relapse treatment. Methods: We performed a pairwise comparative analysis of early response to first- and second-line treatments in 127 patients with classic HL who experienced relapse. The patients participated in the prospective, multicenter EuroNet-PHL-C1 study. Residual uptake was measured retrospectively using the qPET method, a validated semiautomatic quantitative extension of the Deauville score. Empiric cumulative distribution functions of the qPET values were used to systematically analyze the response to first- and second-line treatments. Results: Individual patients responded variably to first- and second-line treatments. However, the empiric cumulative distribution functions of the qPET values from all patients were nearly superimposable. Conclusion: The findings support that first- and second-line treatments in HL do not require different response criteria.

Abnormal body composition is a predictor of adverse outcomes after autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

The number of patients undergoing autologous haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is growing, but little is known about the factors that predict adverse outcomes. Low muscle mass and obesity are associated with disability and premature mortality in individuals with non-malignant diseases and may predict outcomes after autologous HCT.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of 320 patients who underwent autologous HCT for Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma between 2009 and 2014. Sarcopenia {skeletal muscle index male: <43 cm/m2 [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2 ] or < 53 cm/m2 [BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 ] and female: <41 cm/m2 [regardless of BMI]) and obesity [total abdominal adiposity ≥450.0 cm2 (male), ≥396.4 cm2 (female)] were assessed from single-slice abdominal pre-HCT computed tomography images. Length of hospital stay, first unplanned intensive care unit admission, and 30-day unplanned readmission were evaluated based on body composition using multivariable regression analysis, and mortality was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Gray's test.

RESULTS

Median age at HCT was 53.3 years (range, 18.5 to 78.1 years); 26.3% were sarcopenic and an additional 7.8% were sarcopenic obese pre-HCT. Sarcopenic obesity was associated with increased risk of prolonged hospitalization [odds ratio (OR) = 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-9.8], intensive care unit admission (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.5-16.1), and unplanned readmission after HCT (OR = 13.6, 95% CI 2.5-62.8). Patients who were sarcopenic obese also had the highest mortality risk at 1 year [hazard ratio (HR): 3.9, 95% CI 1.1-11.0] and 5 years (HR: 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.5), compared with patients with normal body composition. Sarcopenia alone, but not obesity alone, was associated with an increased risk of these outcomes, albeit with a lower magnitude of risk than in patients who were sarcopenic obese.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenic obesity was an important predictor of outcomes in patients undergoing autologous HCT. These findings could inform targeted prevention strategies in patients at highest risk of complications after HCT.

Hodgkin's lymphoma: post- autologous transplantation consolidation therapy

A first-line chemotherapy program based on the ABVD regimen is currently considered the golden standard by most hematologists, being able to achieve a cure without any need of subsequent therapies in >70% of patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). To increase this percentage, efforts in recent decades focused on the development of new therapeutic strategies. A first major effort was the introduction of the BEACOPP chemotherapy regimen, which is able to increase the response rate and to reduce the need of salvage therapies. However, this result did not demonstrate an advantage in terms of overall survival compared to ABVD, mainly due to an excess of non lymphoma-related events in the follow-up phase. Here we describe three clinical cases of young HL patients who had relapsed/refractory disease after the induction chemotherapy. These three clinical cases provide practical and real world evidence in favor of the use of BV in monotherapy as consolidation treatment after autologous stem cells transplantation in patients with relapsed/refractory HL.

Outcomes of Refractory and Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma With Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation: A Single Institution Experience

PURPOSE

Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults. Overall survival is approximately 80% to 90%. A subset of these patients has refractory disease or experience disease relapse. Conventional salvage therapies and autologous stem-cell transplantation is usually considered the standard of care for these patients. Our analysis reports outcomes in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

After institutional review board approval, a retrospective analysis of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who were up to 18 years of age and who had refractory or relapsed disease at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre from September 2009 to December 2013 was performed. Patients who underwent high-dose chemotherapy followed by stem-cell rescue were included in this analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 567 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma registered at the hospital. Sixty of the patients (10.6%) had either primary progressive or refractory disease or relapse after finishing with first-line chemotherapy. High-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell was administered to 25 of these patients (42%). Thirteen patients (40%) had progressive disease (PD), five (22%) had early relapse, and seven (38%) had late relapse. A number of salvage regimens were used, including etoposide, prednisolone, ifosfamide, and cisplatin; dexamethasone, cytarabine, and carboplatin; and gemcitabine plus vinorelbine. Re-evaluation was performed before taking patients to a high dose, and it showed complete response in 17 patients (68%), partial response in six patients (24%), and PD in two patients (8%). Twenty-one patients (84%) are in remission after transplantation, with two patients (8%) having died as a result of disease progression and two patients (2%) having relapsed after treatment. Overall survival is 92% at 4 years, with event-free survival of 80% at 4 years.

CONCLUSION

Our retrospective analysis shows good outcomes in patients who had PD or refractory disease. Disease response before transplantation is important in predicting outcomes.

Relapse or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: determining risk of relapse or progression after autologous stem-cell transplantation

The treatment of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a success in onco-hematology. Despite the high cure rate of HL with initial therapy, 5-10% of patients are primary refractory and 10-20% will eventually relapse. The standard treatment for these patients is salvage chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Only about half of these patients will benefit from this procedure. The prognosis of relapsed refractory (rr) HL has improved with the introduction of effective drugs. With these options available, identification of reliable risk factors is important to guide treatment over the course of disease. Different variables including performance status, anemia, B symptoms, laboratory abnormalities, treatment intensity before ASCT, response to therapy, and duration of remission, have been analyzed to determine risk for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after ASCT. This review will discuss the publications analyzing these factors, the validated risk scores useful to identify patients at high risk of progression after ASCT, and will describe future perspectives.

Optimizing outcomes in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: a review of current and forthcoming therapeutic strategies

The outcome of patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (rr-cHL) has improved considerably in recent years owing to the approval of highly active novel agents such as brentuximab vedotin and Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors. Although no randomized trials have been conducted to provide formal proof, it is almost undisputable that the survival of these patients has been prolonged. As autologous stem-cell transplantation (SCT) remains the standard of care for second-line therapy of most patients with rr-cHL, optimization of second-line regimens with the use of brentuximab vedotin, or, in the future, checkpoint inhibitors, is promising to increase both the eligibility rate for transplant and the final outcome. The need for subsequent therapy, and especially allogeneic SCT, can be reduced with brentuximab vedotin consolidation for 1 year, while pembrolizumab is also being tested in this setting. Several other drug categories appear to be active in rr-cHL, but their development has been delayed by the appearance of brentuximab vedotin, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, which have dominated the field of rr-cHL treatment in the last 5 years. Combinations of active drugs in chemo-free approaches may further increase efficacy and hopefully reduce toxicity in rr-cHL, but are still under development.

Risk and Response Adapted Treatment Guidelines for Managing First Relapsed and Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children and Young People. Recommendations from the EuroNet Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma Group

The objective of this guideline is to aid clinicians in making individual salvage treatment plans for pediatric and adolescent patients with first relapse or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). While salvage with standard dose chemotherapy followed by high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant is often considered the standard of care in adult practice, pediatric practice adopts a more individualized risk stratified and response adapted approach to salvage treatment with greater use of non-transplant salvage. Here, we present on behalf of the EuroNet Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma group, evidence and consensus-based guidelines for standardized diagnostic, prognostic and response procedures to allocate children and adolescents with R/R cHL to stratified salvage treatments.

Relapsed and Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: Keeping Pace With Novel Agents and New Options for Salvage Therapy

The management of relapsed and refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has changed substantially since the approval of brentuximab vedotin (BV) and the checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab. For patients progressing after frontline treatment, second-line therapy followed by consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) remains the standard of care; however, although traditional combination chemotherapy regimens previously represented the only options for salvage, BV is now routinely incorporated into second-line therapy, and studies are evaluating checkpoint inhibitors in this setting as well. After ASCT, BV maintenance improves progression-free survival for patients at higher-risk, and studies are evaluating the role of post-ASCT maintenance with checkpoint inhibitors. Management of HL that progresses after ASCT remains a challenge. Although many patients achieve prolonged disease control with checkpoint inhibitors, the majority eventually progress and require additional therapy. Newer approaches, including CD30-directed chimeric antigen receptor-T-cell therapy, appear promising. Furthermore, allogeneic stem cell transplant remains an important consideration. Altogether, BV and checkpoint inhibitors have improved survival for patients with relapsed and refractory HL. However, the ideal place for these drugs in the treatment course of HL is still under investigation. Ongoing studies testing novel combinations and assessing for prognostic and predictive markers will ultimately define the optimal setting for these drugs in the treatment of relapsed and refractory HL.

Cost-effectiveness of brentuximab vedotin plus chemotherapy as frontline treatment of stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma

OBJECTIVE

The ECHELON-1 trial demonstrated efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (A + AVD) vs doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) as frontline therapy for stage III/IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma. This analysis evaluated the cost-effectiveness of A + AVD from a US healthcare payer perspective.

METHODS

The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), defined as the incremental costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, was estimated using a non-homogenous semi-Markov cohort model with health states defined on progression following frontline treatment, and for those with progression, receipt of autologous stem-cell transplant (ASCT), and progression after ASCT. Patients undergoing ASCT were classified as refractory or relapsed based on timing of progression. Probabilities of progression/death with frontline therapy were based on parametric survival distributions fit to data on modified progression-free survival (mPFS) from ECHELON-1. Duration of frontline treatment and incidence of adverse events were from ECHELON-1. Utility values for patients in the frontline mPFS state were based on EQ-5D data from ECHELON-1. Other inputs were from published sources. A lifetime time horizon was used. Costs and QALYs were discounted at 3%. Analyses were conducted alternately using data on mPFS for the overall and North American populations of ECHELON-1.

RESULTS

The ICER for A + AVD vs ABVD was $172,074/QALY gained in the analysis using data on mPFS for the overall population and $69,442/QALY gained in the analysis using data on mPFS for the North American population of ECHELON-1. The ICER is sensitive to estimated costs of ASCT and frontline failure.

CONCLUSION

The ICER for A + AVD vs ABVD based on ECHELON-1 is within the range of threshold values for cost-effectiveness in the US. A + AVD is, therefore, likely to be a cost-effective frontline therapy for patients with stage III/IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma from a US healthcare payer perspective.

Treatment-Resistant Hodgkin Lymphoma: Defining the Role of Autologous Transplantation

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHCT) remains the current standard of care for patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after frontline chemotherapy. However, treatment paradigms for HL are rapidly changing with positron emission tomography-adapted therapy, as well as the incorporation of brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors into frontline, salvage, and maintenance therapy for HL. Patients who relapse or are refractory to these novel agents are likely to have different responses and outcomes with AHCT than the 3-year event-free survivals of 50% historically reported with AHCT for patients failing conventional combination chemotherapy. This article reviews the current data on the efficacy of AHCT, pretransplant prognostic markers, pretransplant salvage regimens, peritransplant radiation therapy, and posttransplant maintenance therapy in classic HL. Future research should reexamine the efficacy, timing, risk factors, pretransplant salvage regimens, and maintenance approaches posttransplant in the era of brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors for HL.

Sequential immunotherapy in a patient with primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and novel mutations

Primary resistant Hodgkin lymphoma is an aggressive disease with few treatment options and short survival. Neoplastic cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma are heavily dependent on microenvironmental stimuli, regularly express PD-L1, and a relevant proportion of relapsed patients is sensitive to blocking of the PD1/PD-L1 axis. However, response duration is limited and further treatment options are unknown but urgently needed.

We report a case of a patient without relevant response to five subsequent chemotherapy regimens who immediately and dramatically responded to an anti-PD1 mab. During the following two years she responded to the anti-CTLA-4 mab ipilimumab, the Jak2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, and a combination of lenalidomide plus cyclophosphamide given in subsequent relapses. A thorough genomic analysis demonstrated seven genomic alterations with six of them not previously described in this disease (i.e. BRIP1 G212fs*62, KRAS L19F, KDM5A R1239W, MYC A59T, ARIDA1A E1683fs*15 and TP53 277Y). Three alterations were considered actionable and one of them drugable. The number of mutations increased over time and the BRIP1 mutation was found to be a germline mutation.

Transplant strategies in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma

The majority of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are cured with initial therapy. However, high-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) allows for the cure of an additional portion of patients with relapsed or primary refractory disease. Positron emission tomography-negative complete remission before AHCT is critical for long-term disease control. Several salvage options are available with comparable response rates, and the choice can be dependent of comorbidities and logistics. Radiation therapy can also improve the remission rate and is an important therapeutic option for selected patients. Brentuximab vedotin (BV) maintenance after AHCT is beneficial in patients at high risk for relapse, especially those with more than 1 risk factor, but can have the possibility of significant side effects, primarily neuropathy. Newer agents with novel mechanisms of action are under investigation to improve response rates for patients with subsequent relapse, although are not curative alone. BV and the checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab are very effective with limited side effects and can bridge patients to curative allogeneic transplants (allo-HCT). Consideration for immune-mediated toxicities, timing of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant based on response, and the potential for increased graft-versus-host disease remain important. Overall, prospective investigations continue to improve outcomes and minimize toxicity for relapsed or primary refractory HL patients.

Outcome of children and adolescents with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma treated with high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation: the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center experience

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.

Current strategies for salvage treatment for relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is curable in 70-80% of patients with first-line therapy. However, relapses occur in a minority of patients with favorable early stage disease and are more frequent in patients with advanced HL. Salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for patients with chemotherapy-sensitive disease is a standard treatment sequence for relapsed or refractory (rel/ref) HL. Patients who achieve complete response prior to ASCT have better survival outcomes. The choice of salvage chemotherapy therapy is becoming increasingly difficult in the era of novel agents, as there are no randomized studies to guide the choice of a second-line regimen. In this article, we will review current salvage therapy options, including combination chemotherapy and novel-agent-based salvage regimens for rel/ref HL.

Advances in the pathophysiology and treatment of relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma with an emphasis on targeted therapies and transplantation strategies

Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is highly curable with first-line therapy. However, a minority of patients present with refractory disease or experience relapse after completion of frontline treatment. These patients are treated with salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), which remains the standard of care with curative potential for refractory or relapsed HL. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of such patients will progress after ASCT, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative approach in that setting. Recent advances in the pathophysiology of refractory or relapsed HL have provided the rationale for the development of novel targeted therapies with potent anti-HL activity and favorable toxicity profile, in contrast to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Brentuximab vedotin and programmed cell death-1-based immunotherapy have proven efficacy in the management of refractory or relapsed HL, whereas several other agents have shown promise in early clinical trials. Several of these agents are being incorporated with transplantation strategies in order to improve the outcomes of refractory or relapsed HL. In this review we summarize the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms responsible for the development of refractory/relapsed HL and the outcomes with current treatment strategies, with an emphasis on targeted therapies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

A multi-institutional analysis of peritransplantation radiotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

No consensus exists regarding the use of radiotherapy (RT) in conjunction with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDC/ASCT) for patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The objectives of the current study were to characterize practice patterns and assess the efficacy and toxicity of RT at 2 major transplantation centers.

METHODS

Eligible patients underwent HDC/ASCT from 2006 through 2015 using the combination of either carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) or cyclophosphamide, BCNU, and etoposide (CBV).

RESULTS

For the cohort of 189 patients, the 4-year overall survival rate was 80%, the progression-free survival rate was 67%, and the local control (LC) rate was 68%. RT was used within 4 months of ASCT for 22 patients (12%) and was given more often for disease that was early stage, primary refractory, or [¹⁸ F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid at the time of HDC/ASCT. Disease recurrence occurring after HDC/ASCT was associated with primary refractory disease and FDG-avidity at the time of HDC/ASCT. RT was not found to be associated with LC, progression-free survival, or overall survival on univariate analysis. In a model incorporating primary refractory HL and FDG-avid disease at the time of HDC/ASCT, RT was found to be associated with a decreased risk of local disease recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.3; P = .02). In patients with primary refractory HL and/or FDG-avid disease at the time of HDC/ASCT, the 4-year LC rate was 81% with RT versus 49% without RT (P = .03). There was one case of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade ≥ 3 RT-related toxicity (acute grade 3 pancytopenia).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing ASCT for relapsed/refractory HL, peritransplantation RT was used more often for disease that was early stage, primary refractory, or FDG-avid after salvage conventional-dose chemotherapy. RT was associated with improved LC of high-risk localized disease and was well tolerated with modern techniques. Cancer 2017;123:1363-1371. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Novel agents and strategies in transplant-eligible patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma

The majority of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma are cured with frontline therapy; however, 10% to 15% with early-stage disease and 20% to 30% with advanced stage require second-line therapy that includes a potentially curative transplant, of which an additional 50% to 55% are cured. Those with multiply relapsed disease traditionally would receive novel agents on a clinical trial or combination chemotherapy as a potential bridge to an allogeneic stem cell transplant. This treatment paradigm has changed with the availability of brentuximab vedotin, an antibody drug conjugate used pre- and post-ASCT, as well as for palliation. With the availability of the checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, there will be another shift in treatment, with these agents being used for palliation and potentially replacing allogeneic stem cell transplantation in certain patient populations. Finally, up-front management is also changing and this will have an impact on how patients in the relapsed and refractory setting will be treated.