Where Hodgkin lymphoma treatment is heading
Hodgkin lymphoma · Updated Nov 12, 2026
Most people with Hodgkin lymphoma are cured. In 2026 immunotherapy became part of first treatment for advanced disease. The next aim is to cure as many while cutting chemotherapy and radiation, which cause problems decades later.
- 332studies open or running
- 21of them in phase 3
- 700papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Immunotherapy joins first treatmentHappened 92% vs 83% free of progression at 2 years
Nivolumab with AVD chemotherapy was approved in March 2026 for stage III and IV disease in people 12 and older.
92% vs 83%: free of progression at 2 years, nivolumab vs brentuximab.
Teenagers did better and skipped radiationHappened 93% vs 82% teens progression-free at 3 years
In the same trial, almost no teenagers needed radiation.
93% vs 82%: free of progression at 3 years, nivolumab vs brentuximab.
A gentler intensive regimen in EuropeHappened 94.3% vs 90.9% progression-free at 4 years
BrECADD caused fewer treatment-related problems than eBEACOPP and controlled the disease better.
94.3% vs 90.9%: free of progression at 4 years, BrECADD vs eBEACOPP.
-
6 months
by May 2027
Immunotherapy in place of a transplantPossible
A Canadian trial compares pembrolizumab plus brentuximab with chemotherapy and stem cell transplant at first relapse. Due December 2026.
Atezolizumab with chemotherapy at relapsePossible
An Italian trial of 122 people is fully enrolled and due December 2026.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
Pembrolizumab for children and young adultsPossible
A 340-person trial of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy in young people is fully enrolled and due February 2027.
Immunotherapy for frail older adultsPossible
Brentuximab with nivolumab, with or without ipilimumab, for people who cannot have chemotherapy. Due June 2027.
-
3 years
by late 2029
Lower radiation doses guided by PETPossible
An Italian trial of 518 people tests whether a clear PET scan allows a smaller radiation dose in early unfavorable disease.
Nivolumab-AVD becomes the US standardLikely 92% vs 83% free of progression at 2 years
Most US centers move to nivolumab-AVD for advanced disease, with less radiation.
92% vs 83%: free of progression at 2 years, nivolumab vs brentuximab.
-
5 years
by late 2031
Chemo-light treatment for early diseasePossible
A 1,875-person trial tests brentuximab plus nivolumab against standard treatment in early-stage disease, with less chemotherapy and radiation.
Brentuximab in early-stage diseasePossible
The UK RADAR trial of 1,042 people finishes in 2030.
Radiation rarely neededLong shot 94.2% vs 86.7% with vs without radiation
If these trials succeed, most people could be cured without radiation, reducing later heart disease and second cancers.
94.2% vs 86.7%: free of progression at 5 years, with vs without radiation, in an earlier trial.
The research paths
Immunotherapy first
92% vs 83% free of progression at 2 yearsDetails and 2 trialsHide
PD-1 drugs such as nivolumab work well in Hodgkin lymphoma and are moving into first treatment and into children.
WatchLong-term survival, and late effects of immunotherapy in young people.
Less radiation and chemotherapy
94.2% vs 86.7% with vs without radiationDetails and 2 trialsHide
Dropping radiation alone raised relapses in earlier trials. Newer trials pair PET scans with better drugs to cut radiation safely.
WatchThe PRIORITY and RADAR results.
Relapsed disease
Details and 2 trialsHide
Testing whether immunotherapy combinations can replace or improve on the stem cell transplant.
WatchThe Canadian trial comparing immunotherapy with transplant.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Melanoma
Nivolumab
92% vs 83% free of progression at 2 years
Approved 2026
A PD-1 immunotherapy first approved for melanoma; Hodgkin lymphoma responds to it unusually well.
Open to join now
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Early-stage, children and adults
Brentuximab plus nivolumab vs standard
Locations and eligibility → -
Early stage, UK
Brentuximab in early stage (RADAR)
Locations and eligibility → -
Early unfavorable, Italy
Lower radiation dose (PRIORITY)
Locations and eligibility → -
First relapse, Canada
Immunotherapy vs transplant
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Hodgkin lymphoma trial →
When the large trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Biology A lymphoma research center testing new treatmentsBaylor College of Medicine · NIH Funded through Aug 2027 News likely 2027
- Risk A vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus, linked to some Hodgkin lymphomaMidwest Research Institute · NIH Funded through Sep 2027 News likely 2027–2028
What just happened
FDA approves nivolumab-AVD as first treatment
For stage III or IV disease, age 12 and older.
Teenagers did better on nivolumab-AVD
93% vs 82% progression-free at 3 years.
Fertility recovered better after BrECADD
Secondary analysis of the HD21 trial.
Standard treatment today
- Early stageABVD chemotherapy for 2 to 4 cycles, often with radiation; PET scans guide how much.
- Advanced stageNivolumab-AVD (US, approved 2026), brentuximab-AVD, or BrECADD (Europe).
- RelapseSecond-line chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant using your own cells; immunotherapy and brentuximab before or after.
- After cureLong-term checks for heart, lung, thyroid and second-cancer risks.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Cure rates are already high, so trials measure small differences and long-term side effects.
- Nivolumab-AVD and BrECADD have not been compared directly.
- Completion dates are what each trial registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Hodgkin lymphoma trials recruiting now →