Brentuximab Vedotin-Based Regimens Show Long-Term Safety, Efficacy in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Two multidrug regimens containing brentuximab vedotin (BV) confer long-term safety and efficacy in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), according to data from a phase 2 trial.¹

These results were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2021 Virtual Congress by Carla Damaschin, of University Hospital Cologne in Germany.

Ms Damaschin said “excellent outcomes” have been seen in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced cHL who receive escalated bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (eBEACOPP). However, late effects of eBEACOPP “represent an ongoing concern.” 

With this in mind, researchers conducted a phase 2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01569204) of eBEACOPP-like regimens that included BV instead of bleomycin. One regimen consisted of BV, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, dacarbazine, and dexamethasone (BrECADD). The other consisted of BV, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, and prednisone (BrECAPP).

Previous results from this trial showed that both BrECADD and BrECAPP met the co-primary efficacy endpoints.² At EHA 2021, Ms Damaschin reported long-term safety and efficacy data with these regimens.

The study enrolled 104 patients, aged 18 to 60 years, with newly diagnosed, advanced cHL, and they were randomly assigned to receive BrECADD or BrECAPP.

In the updated analysis, the median follow-up was 34 months for the BrECADD arm and 35 months for the BrECAPP arm.

The 3-year progression-free survival rates were 89.7% in the BrECADD arm and 90.2% in the BrECAPP arm.

Eight patients (4 in both arms) experienced disease progression or relapse. All 8 patients received high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant as second-line treatment.

There were no cases of second primary malignancies.

The 3-year overall survival rates were 95.4% in the BrECADD arm and 100% in the BrECAPP arm. The 2 deaths in the BrECADD arm were attributed to cHL and an accident.  

Ms Damaschin noted that BrECADD was selected as the comparator to eBEACOPP for an ongoing phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02661503).

Disclosures: This research was supported by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The presenter did not provide any disclosures.

Reference

1. Damaschin C, Goergen H, Kreissl S, et al. Brentuximab vedotin-containing escalated BEACOPP variants for newly diagnosed advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma: Follow-up analysis of a randomized phase II study from the German Hodgkin Study Group. Paper presented at: European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress; June 2021; Abstract S209.
2. Eichenauer DA, Plütschow A, Kreissl S, et al. Incorporation of brentuximab vedotin into first-line treatment of advanced classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma: Final analysis of a phase 2 randomised trial by the German Hodgkin Study Group. Lancet Oncol. 2017 Dec;18(12):1680-1687. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30696-4

This article originally appeared on Cancer Therapy Advisor