Brentuximab Vedotin + Pembrolizumab Yields 88% Pre-ASCT CMR in R/R cHL

Brentuximab vedotin (BV), a CD30-directed ADC, plus the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab was retrospectively used as salvage in 24 heavily pre-treated relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients prior to high-dose chemotherapy/ASCT, then followed by BV maintenance. A median three induction cycles produced 92% ORR and 88% pre-ASCT complete metabolic response; 83% were still in CR after maintenance, with 1-year PFS/OS of 83%/92% and predominantly hematologic grade 3-4 events (two hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [HLH], one treatment-related death). The CMR rate eclipses nivolumab + BV’s 59% in CheckMate 744 and the 24% CR from pembrolizumab monotherapy in KEYNOTE-204, and compares favorably with the 59% 5-year PFS achieved by post-ASCT BV maintenance alone in AETHERA.