title: Brentuximab vedotin in Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against antigens expressed by tumor cells have become an effective therapeutic option in hematologic malignancies. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) utilize the targeting properties of mAbs to deliver cytotoxic agents inside the malignant cell. Brentuximab vedotin is a CD30-specific ADC with significant clinical activity in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).
  
  
  METHODS
  CD30 is an ideal target for therapy due to its limited expression on normal tissues and the strong and uniform expression on malignant cells in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). Early studies using unconjugated CD30 mAbs have demonstrated lack of objective responses in patients with recurrent cHL. Brentuximab vedotin is an ADC with significant clinical activity in patients with HL. Here, the authors review the biology of brentuximab vedotin, summarize available clinical data and discuss future treatment strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brentuximab vedotin is a well-tolerated and highly active drug in patients with relapsed cHL. This novel agent has the potential to be incorporated in the standard management of the disease with significant therapeutic impact.
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. barbara.pro@fccc.edu
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pro
authors.forename: Guilherme Fleury
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Perini
mesh_terms: D000079963:Brentuximab Vedotin; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018796:Immunoconjugates; D000079963:Brentuximab Vedotin