Pembrolizumab-GVD followed by autologous transplantation shows 91% five-year PFS in relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Pembrolizumab-GVD combines pembrolizumab (anti–PD-1) with gemcitabine/vinorelbine/liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy as PET-adaptive salvage to bridge transplant-eligible relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients to high-dose therapy/autologous stem cell rescue (HDT/ASCR) in this multicenter Phase 2 trial (NCT03618550). Among 39 enrolled (38 response-evaluable; 41% primary refractory, 38% relapsed <1 year), CR was 95% and ORR 100% after up to 4 cycles (92% achieved CR after 2 cycles); 95% proceeded to HDT/ASCR, and at median 57 months follow-up, estimated 5-year PFS/OS for the treatment strategy including subsequent HDT/ASCR were 91%/94% with 1 post–per-protocol relapse and 2 non-relapse/treatment-related deaths. This depth of CR is well above historical platinum-based salvage chemo alone (e.g., ICE/DHAP CR ~21–26% with ORR ~80–90%), supporting further evaluation of PD-1–chemotherapy salvage as a bridge to transplantation in eligible patients; no new safety signals emerged with longer follow-up.