Onkológia 2/2015

The current status of biological therapy for relapsed/refractory classical hodgkin lymphoma – a case report

Background: Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a B cell-derived lymphoid malignancy most often affecting young adults. More than 80 % of HL patients achieve long-term remission after appropriate first-line treatment consisting of multiagent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In addition, approximately 50 % of patients with disease recurrence remain relapse-free after salvage therapy with highdose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. However, patients with multiple relapses are mostly in a palliative situation, and novel drugs for this patient group are needed. Purpose: We present theoretical and practical knowledge in the health care of patients with refractory cHL. Case report: Our case report describes a 67-year-old female with primary refractory cHL. She was treated with monoclonal antibody (brentuximab vedotin) as third-line treatment. PET/CT imaging confirmed a rapid complete remission. Results: Although durability of the remission needs further observation, this case illustrates the excellent efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusion: Anti CD30 antibody-drug conjugate, brentuximab vedotin, is a promising drug for relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and is also explored to be incorporated into first line therapy.

Keywords: brentuximab vedotin, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, monoclonal antibody.