Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD, associate chair of Hematology Research, Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center/US Oncology Research, discusses the safety profile of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Data from a phase 2 trial (NCT01716806) presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting demonstrated that the combination had a suitable safety profile. Despite the addition of nivolumab, immune-mediated inflammatory toxicities were well managed with the use of steroids, says Yasenchak. Moreover, grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were rare.

Although neuropathy can be an issue with brentuximab vedotin, the incidence of neuropathy in the trial was low and resolved in the majority of patients. The average time until resolution was 22 weeks, says Yasenchak. In terms of infusion-related reactions, the majority were grade 1/2 and did not limit the ability to treat patients.

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Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD, discusses the safety profile of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Dr. Yasenchak on the Safety Profile of Brentuximab Vedotin/Nivolumab in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD, associate chair of Hematology Research, Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center/US Oncology Research, discusses brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

The phase II study treated patients ≥60 years old who are ineligible or declined from conventional therapy. Patients also could not have had received prior therapy. The frontline study treated patients with a combination of brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab every 3 weeks up to 16 cycles.

Based on the 18 evaluable subjects, the overall response rate was 100%, with a 72% complete response rate. The data from the study suggests that brentuximab vedotin in combination with nivolumab is a promising treatment for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and it appears well tolerated in the patients who participated in the trial.

Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD, discusses brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.
 

Dr. Yasenchak on Brentuximb Vedotin Plus Nivolumab in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD, associate chair of Hematology Research, Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center/US Oncology Research, discusses results of a study examining the addition of brentuximab vedotin to R-CHOP for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The patient population enrolled in this randomized phase II study consisted of those who were newly diagnosed with intermediate- or high-risk disease. The median 3-year progression-free survival in this subset is approximately 55%, Yasenchak adds. Patients are likely to fail frontline therapy and require salvage chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation, or mini-allo stem cell transplant.

Therefore, researchers investigated whether adding brentuximab vedotin to R-CHOP would improve these outcomes. Patients received either brentuximab vedotin at 1.8 mg/kg or 1.2 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. The 1.8 mg/kg dose was associated with significant neurotoxicity, Yasenchak adds. As a result, all remaining patients receiving the higher dosage were reduced to the 1.2 mg/kg cohort.

Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD, associate chair of Hematology Research, Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center/US Oncology Research, discusses results of a study examining the addition of brentuximab vedotin to R-CHOP for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Christopher A. Yasenchak, MD

Articles

Dr. Yasenchak on the Safety Profile of Brentuximab Vedotin/Nivolumab in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Dr. Yasenchak on Brentuximb Vedotin Plus Nivolumab in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Dr. Yasenchak on Brentuximab Vedotin Added to R-CHOP in DLBCL