Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the results of the ECHELON-2 study in patients with CD30+ peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL).

In this phase III study of patients with CD30-expressing PTCL, the addition of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) to chemotherapy led to a clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. The primary endpoint was PFS per blinded independent central review.

Findings showed a 29% reduction in the risk of disease progression, a 34% reduction in the risk of death, and a 3-year PFS rate of 57.1% versus 44% with CHOP. PFS benefit was generally observed across all patient subgroups, most notably in patients with ALK-positive systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Brentuximab vedotin was approved by the FDA in November 2018 for the frontline treatment of patients with CD30-expressing PTCL in combination with chemotherapy. Previously, the frontline standard of care for patients with PTCL has been CHOP or a CHOP-like regimen with curative intent.

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Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the results of the ECHELON-2 study in patients with CD30+ peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL).
 

Dr. Horwitz Discusses the Results of the ECHELON-2 Study

Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering, discusses the evolving role of CHOP in peripheral T-cell lymphoma. For years CHOP or a similar regimen has been the standard treatment for peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

However, it is only effective for some people, says Horwitz.

Recently, studies have begun investigating novel agents in combination with CHOP. Questions still remain regarding if CHOP is a reasonable backbone and if it improves outcomes for all patients or just specific subgroups of patients, says Horwitz

​Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering, discusses the evolving role of CHOP in peripheral T-cell lymphoma. For years CHOP or a similar regimen has been the standard treatment for peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
 

Dr. Horwitz on Combination CHOP Regimens in Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma

Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the future of the CHOP regiment for t-cell lymphoma.

Whether or not CHOP remains a common treatment regiment for t-cell lymphoma depending largely on how combinations that include CHOP do in clinical trials, says Horwitz.

If studies including CHOP do not do well, it could eventually be replaced. However it does offer a high response rate and a high cure rate, so it will probably never entirely be abandoned as a treatment option for t-cell lymphoma.

Dr. Horwitz on the Future of CHOP for T-Cell Lymphoma 

Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses some of the challenges oncologists face with T-cell lymphoma.

When treating patients with T-cell lymphoma, Horwitz says standard therapies do not work as effectively compared to patients with other cancer types. This leads to patients' conditions worsening, he explains.

The heterogeneity of T-cell lymphoma is also something oncologists should understand, since the disease has various subtypes. Within these subtypes are targeted mutations, Horwitz says, but the subsets are extremely small. It is difficult to find one treatment plan that fits all, or most, patients.

Steven M. Horwitz, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses some of the challenges oncologists face with T-cell lymphoma. 


Steven M. Horwitz, MD

Articles

Dr. Horwitz Discusses the Results of the ECHELON-2 Study

Dr. Horwitz on Combination CHOP Regimens in Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma

Dr. Horwitz on the Future of CHOP for T-Cell Lymphoma

Dr. Horwitz on the Challenges With T-Cell Lymphoma