Outcomes of patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma progressing after autologous stem cell transplant in the current era of novel therapeutics: A retrospective analysis

Patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (RR-HL) who progress or relapse following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) have historically had a poor prognosis. Several novel agents, particularly brentuximab vedotin, have shown efficacy in this setting. However, there remains a paucity of data characterizing outcomes outside of clinical trials and how these novel agents have impacted prognosis in general population of patients with RR-HL. Here, we conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate outcomes in 87 patients with RR-HL with relapse post-ASCT. Treatment with novel agents (including brentuximab vedotin) was associated with significant improvement in median overall survival (OS) compared to patients who did not receive novel agents (85.6 vs 17.1 months; P<.001). Additional factors associated with improved OS in univariate analysis include treatment with radiation therapy post-ASCT (34.1 vs 17.0 months; P=.015), chemosensitivity (i.e., relapsed compared to primary refractory disease; 51.8 vs 25.6 months; p=0.013), initial response to ASCT (i.e., CR/PR compared to SD/PD; 46.1 vs 20.4 months; P=.011), and transplantation in 2010 and later compared to prior to 2010 (not reached vs 24.5 months; P=.025). The current study demonstrates markedly improved OS in RR-HL patients treated with novel therapeutics and lends "real world" credence to the role of these agents in improving outcomes in the current era.