Combination treatment for advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma

PET Adapted Brentuximab Vedotin and Pembrolizumab in Combination With Doxorubicin and Dacarbazine in Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma

This study is testing a combination of four drugs to see if it helps people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma feel better and respond well to treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (other)
• Drugs / interventions: brentuximab, pembrolizumab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, doxorubicin, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Houston, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT05922904 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effects of a combination therapy using brentuximab vedotin, pembrolizumab, doxorubicin, and dacarbazine in patients with untreated classic Hodgkin lymphoma, specifically those with Stage II bulky mediastinal disease or advanced stages III and IV. The primary objective is to assess the complete response rate at the end of therapy, while secondary objectives include evaluating safety, overall response rate, duration of response, and survival outcomes. Patients will undergo PET/CT imaging to confirm eligibility and monitor treatment response.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are treatment-naïve adults aged 18 and older with confirmed classic Hodgkin lymphoma at advanced stages or with bulky disease.

Not a fit: Patients with previously treated Hodgkin lymphoma or those with early-stage disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve response rates and survival outcomes for patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar combination therapies in Hodgkin lymphoma, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Treatment-naïve, HL subjects with Ann Arbor stage III, IV, or stage II with bulky disease (\>10 cm).
2. Histologically confirmed cHL according to the current World Health Organization Classification (nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte rich, lymphocyte depleted, classical HL, or not otherwise specified). a. Subjects enrolling must submit a tumor block for analysis. Availability of tissue must be confirmed prior to enrollment.
3. Bidimensional measurable disease as documented by PET/CT or CT imaging. Must have at least one lesion \>15 mm (1.5 cm) in the longest diameter on cross-sectional imaging, measurable in 2 perpendicular dimensions on CT (or MRI), and FDG avid by PET.
4. Age 18 years or older.
5. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status zero, or one.
6. Subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) pregnancy test result within 7 days prior to the first dose of brentuximab vedotin. Subjects with false positive results and documented verification that the subject is not pregnant are eligible for participation. Subjects of non-childbearing potential are those who are postmenopausal \>1 year or who have had a bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy.
7. If sexually active in a way that could result in pregnancy, subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 effective contraception methods during the study and for 7 months following the last dose of study drug. Subjects who can father children and have partners of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 effective contraception methods during the study and for 7 months following the last dose of study drug. Subjects who can father children must also be willing to refrain from sperm donation during this time.
8. The subject or the subject's legally acceptable representative must provide written informed consent. Cognitive ability will be assessed according to policy CLN0547.
9. The following baseline laboratory data:

   * absolute neutrophil count ≥1500/μL unless there is known HL marrow involvement
   * platelet count ≥75,000/μL
   * serum bilirubin ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤3 x ULN for subjects with Gilbert's disease
   * estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation as applicable
   * alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤3 x ULN or ≤5 x ULN if there is documented hepatic involvement of HL
   * hemoglobin ≥8 g/dL

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Nodular lymphocyte predominant HL.
2. History of another malignancy within 3 years before the first dose of study drug or any evidence of residual disease from a previously diagnosed malignancy. Exceptions are malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., 5-year OS ≥90%), such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, localized prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, or Stage I uterine cancer. Subjects with nonmelanoma skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, or carcinoma in situ of any type are not excluded if they have undergone complete resection.
3. Prior immunosuppressive chemotherapy, therapeutic radiation, or any immunotherapy (e.g., immunoglobulin replacement, other monoclonal antibody therapies) within 4 weeks of first study drug dose, unless underlying disease has progressed on treatment.
4. Prior treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, or anti-CTLA-4 antibody, or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways.
5. Active cerebral/meningeal disease related to the underlying malignancy, including signs or symptoms of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) or history of PML. Subjects with a history of cerebral/meningeal disease related to the underlying malignancy are allowed if prior CNS disease has been treated.
6. Any active Grade 3 or higher (per the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[NCI CTCAE\] Version 4.03) viral, bacterial, or fungal infection within 1 week prior to the first dose of study drug. Routine antimicrobial prophylaxis is permitted.
7. Current therapy with other systemic anti-neoplastic or investigational agents.
8. Planned consolidative radiotherapy.
9. Active interstitial lung disease that is symptomatic or may interfere with the detection or management of suspected drug-related pulmonary toxicity.
10. Grade 3 or higher pulmonary disease unrelated to underlying malignancy.
11. Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia or diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (adjusted for hemoglobin) \<50% predicted.
12. Documented history of a cerebral vascular event (stroke or transient ischemic attack), unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or cardiac symptoms consistent with New York Heart Association Class III-IV within 6 months prior to their first dose of brentuximab vedotin. See Appendix E
13. Subjects with Child-Pugh class B or C hepatic impairment.
14. Other serious underlying medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would impair the subject's ability to receive or tolerate the planned treatment and follow-up.
15. Symptomatic neurologic disease compromising normal activities of daily living or requiring medications. See Appendix G
16. Grade 2 or higher peripheral sensory or motor neuropathy at baseline.
17. Left ventricular ejection fraction \<45% or symptomatic cardiac disease (including symptomatic ventricular dysfunction, symptomatic coronary artery disease, and symptomatic arrhythmias), or previous treatment with complete cumulative doses of doxorubicin or other anthracyclines.
18. Subjects with acute or chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) or receiving immunosuppressive therapy as treatment for or prophylaxis agent against GvHD.
19. Previous treatment with brentuximab vedotin.
20. Known history of hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected) infection.
21. Known to be positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
22. Subjects who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
23. Known hypersensitivity to any excipient contained in the drug formulation of brentuximab vedotin, any component of AD, pembrolizumab, doxorubicin, dacarbazine, filgrastim, or pegfilgrastim.
24. Treatment with botanical preparations (e.g., herbal supplements, traditional Chinese medicines) intended to treat the disease under study within 2 weeks prior to treatment.
25. Subjects who have received a live or attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to treatment.
26. Subjects with an active autoimmune disease or any other condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids within 7 days (\>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 30 days of starting treatment. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses \>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. a. Subjects with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll.
27. Subjects who received organ transplant or allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

• M D Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Hun Lee, MD — M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Study coordinator: Hun Lee, MD

Conditions: Hodgkin Lymphoma