title: Recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma: toward a new definition of candidates for autologous stem cell transplant in the era of positron emission tomography scan and novel agents.
abstract: Standard treatment for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) unresponsive to upfront therapy or relapsing after primary treatment (RR-HL) consists of salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). ASCT outcomes are essentially related to two factors: disease burden at the time of transplant and comorbidity status of the patient. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a very sensitive diagnostic instrument to measure disease status. In fact, a negative PET status before ASCT is a well-known positive prognostic factor in patients with RR-HL. The recent introduction of the biologically targeted agent brentuximab vedotin has allowed us to treat RR-HL more efficaciously with less toxicity for the patient. Use of this new agent could help achieve a PET-negative status before ASCT in a larger percentage of patients, without severe toxicities, thereby improving ASCT outcomes. Herein we discuss the current evolving scenario of RR-HL treatment.
authors.affiliation: Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Department of Hematology, Fondazione "G. Pascale", IRCCS , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corradini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mussetti
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
mesh_terms: D000079963:Brentuximab Vedotin; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D018796:Immunoconjugates; D000079963:Brentuximab Vedotin
keywords: Lymphoma and Hodgkin disease; antibody-based immunotherapy; clinical results