Brentuximab vedotin and bendamustine: an effective salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma patients


Uncu Ulu B., Dal M. S., Yönal Hindilerden İ., Akay O. M., MEHTAP Ö., Büyükkurt N., ...More

Journal of Chemotherapy, vol.34, no.3, pp.190-198, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/1120009x.2021.1976912
  • Journal Name: Journal of Chemotherapy
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.190-198
  • Keywords: bendamustine, Brentuximab vedotin, Hodgkin lymphoma, relapsed and refractory, salvage therapy
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The prognosis is poor for relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) patients. The brentuximab vedotin (Bv) and bendamustine (B) combination has been used as a preferable salvage regimen in R/R cHL patient trials. We retrospectively evaluated response rates, toxicities, and the survival in R/R cHL patients treated with the BvB combination. In a multi-centre real-life study, 61 R/R HL patients received intravenous doses of 1.8 mg/kg Bv on the first day plus 90 mg/m2 B on the first and second days of a 21-day cycle as a second-line or beyond-salvage regimen. Patients’ median age at BvB initiation was 33 (range: 18–76 years). BvB was given as median third-line treatment for a median of four cycles (range: 2–11). The overall and complete response rates were 82% and 68.9%, respectively. After BvB initiation, the median follow-up was 14 months, and one- and two-year overall survival rates were 85% and 72%, respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (24.6%), lymphopenia (40%), thrombocytopenia (13%), anaemia (13%), infusion reactions (8.2%), neuropathy (6.5%), and others. The BvB combination could be given as salvage regimen aiming a bridge to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), in patients relapse after ASCT or to transplant-ineligible patients with manageable toxicity profiles.