Positron Emission Tomography–Guided Brentuximab Vedotin, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Dacarbazine, and Dexamethasone in Older Patients With Advanced-Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase II Cohort of the German Hodgkin Study Group HD21 Trial

J Justin Ferdinandus (1Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany) H Helen Kaul (1Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany) A Alexander Fosså A Andreas Hüttmann F Felix Keil (11Hanusch Krankenhaus, Vienna, Austria) Y Yon-Dschun Ko F Felicitas Hitz (7Oncology Kantonsspital St.Gallen, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Gallen, Switzerland) M Michaela Schwarz (Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany) C Corinna Trenker (Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University Marburg and University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany) A Andrea Kerkhoff (7Medizinische Klinik A, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany) P Peter Staib (4Department of Haematology and Oncology, St. Antonius Krankenhaus Eschweiler, Eschweiler, Germany) K Kai Wille (University Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology and Palliative Care, Johannes Wesling Medical Center Minden, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany) I Irmgard Dresel (Ortenau Klinikum, Offenburg, Germany) D Dennis Hahn (Department of Hematology, Oncology, Stem-Cell Transplantation, and Palliative Care, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany) B Bernd Hertenstein (17Department of Hematology and Oncology, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, Bremen, Germany) P Peter Moosmann (Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland) U Ulrich Mey (17Kantonsspital Graubuenden, Oncology and Hematology, for the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK), Chur, Switzerland) S Stefan Balabanov (Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland) T Tasman Armytage (Department of Haematology Gosford Hospital, Gosford, Australia) F Fernando Roncolato J Johannes C. Hellmuth (8Department of Medicine III, Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany) M Mark Hertzberg C Carsten Kobe (11Department of Nuclear Medicine and German Hodgkin Study Group, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) W Wolfram Klapper C Christian Baues (12Department of Radiation Oncology and German Hodgkin Study Group, Hospital Bochum, Bochum, Germany) H Hans-Theodor Eich (Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany) S Stefanie Kreissl (Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria) M Michael Fuchs J Janina Jablonski (2German Hodgkin Study Group and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany) G Gundolf Schneider (1Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany) H Hishan Tharmaseelan (1University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, and Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD), and German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG), Cologne, Germany) D Dennis A. Eichenauer (29Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) B Bastian von Tresckow (1Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, and German Hodgkin Study Group, Cologne, Germany) P Peter Borchmann (Uniklinik Koeln, Koeln, Germany) P Paul J. Bröckelmann

Abstract

PURPOSE Positron emission tomography (PET)-guided therapy with 4-6 cycles of brentuximab vedotin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dacarbazine, and dexamethasone (BrECADD) is highly effective in younger patients with advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (AS-cHL). We report feasibility and efficacy of PET-guided BrECADD as first-line treatment in older patients with AS-cHL. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with AS-cHL aged 61-75 years were enrolled in a phase II single-arm cohort of the HD21 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02661503 ). Patients with negative PET/computed tomography after 2×BrECADD (PET2) received a total of 4×BrECADD, while PET2-positive patients received 6×BrECADD. The primary end point was the centrally reviewed complete remission (CR) rate after the end of chemotherapy (EOC). Secondary end points included feasibility, adverse events, treatment-related morbidity (TRMB), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). RESULTS Between June 2020 and April 2023, 85 patients were enrolled, of whom 83 with a median age of 67 years (range, 61-75) were analyzed in the intention-to-treat cohort. Most prevalent ≥grade 3 toxicities included leukopenia (n = 80 [96%]), thrombocytopenia (n = 71 [86%]), anemia (n = 57 [69%]), and febrile neutropenia (n = 46 [55%]). Forty-eight (60%) of 80 patients with centrally reviewed PET2 were scheduled for 4×BrECADD and 32 (40%) for 6×BrECADD. Of these, 71 patients (89%) received the target number of cycles. Sixty-eight patients (82%; 95% CI, 72 to 90) achieved CR at EOC. PFS and OS estimates at 2 years were 91.5% (95% CI, 85 to 98) and 90.8% (95% CI, 84 to 98), respectively. No death was attributed to study treatment. Initially, impaired HRQoL scores improved during follow up and on average reached population reference values. CONCLUSION PET-guided BrECADD in older patients is feasible and effective. With a PFS rate on par with that of younger patients, short duration, and limited anthracycline exposure, BrECADD is a valuable treatment option also for older patients with AS-cHL.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 43, Issue 27
Published September 20, 2025
Pages 2974-2985
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (35)

J

Justin Ferdinandus

1Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany

H

Helen Kaul

1Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany

A

Alexander Fosså

A

Andreas Hüttmann

F

Felix Keil

11Hanusch Krankenhaus, Vienna, Austria

Y

Yon-Dschun Ko

F

Felicitas Hitz

7Oncology Kantonsspital St.Gallen, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Gallen, Switzerland

M

Michaela Schwarz

Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany

C

Corinna Trenker

Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University Marburg and University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany

A

Andrea Kerkhoff

7Medizinische Klinik A, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

P

Peter Staib

4Department of Haematology and Oncology, St. Antonius Krankenhaus Eschweiler, Eschweiler, Germany

K

Kai Wille

University Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology and Palliative Care, Johannes Wesling Medical Center Minden, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany

I

Irmgard Dresel

Ortenau Klinikum, Offenburg, Germany

D

Dennis Hahn

Department of Hematology, Oncology, Stem-Cell Transplantation, and Palliative Care, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

B

Bernd Hertenstein

17Department of Hematology and Oncology, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, Bremen, Germany

P

Peter Moosmann

Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland

U

Ulrich Mey

17Kantonsspital Graubuenden, Oncology and Hematology, for the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK), Chur, Switzerland

S

Stefan Balabanov

Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

T

Tasman Armytage

Department of Haematology Gosford Hospital, Gosford, Australia

F

Fernando Roncolato

J

Johannes C. Hellmuth

8Department of Medicine III, Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany

M

Mark Hertzberg

C

Carsten Kobe

11Department of Nuclear Medicine and German Hodgkin Study Group, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

W

Wolfram Klapper

C

Christian Baues

12Department of Radiation Oncology and German Hodgkin Study Group, Hospital Bochum, Bochum, Germany

H

Hans-Theodor Eich

Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany

S

Stefanie Kreissl

Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria

M

Michael Fuchs

J

Janina Jablonski

2German Hodgkin Study Group and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany

G

Gundolf Schneider

1Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany

H

Hishan Tharmaseelan

1University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, and Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD), and German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG), Cologne, Germany

D

Dennis A. Eichenauer

29Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

B

Bastian von Tresckow

1Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, and German Hodgkin Study Group, Cologne, Germany

P

Peter Borchmann

Uniklinik Koeln, Koeln, Germany

P

Paul J. Bröckelmann