For decades the standard treatment for patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma has been combination chemotherapy with either ABVD or escalated BEACOPP.
Approximately 5 years ago a randomised trial showed that brentuximab vedotin (an antibody conjugate) combined with AVD compared with ABVD improved overall survival in adults with Hodgkin lymphoma.
The results of the recent SWOG S1826 trial from the US randomised 1000 patient with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma to Nivolumab-AVD or Brentuximab-AVD.
Nivolumab is a PD1 checkpoint blocking agent has shown to be effective in treating Hodgkin lymphoma.
The SWOG 1826 trial showed that patients randomised to Nivo-AVD had a significantly improved 12-month progression free survival of 94% compared to 86% who received BV-AVD.
This study may prove to be a defining moment for a new standard of care for patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.