Clinical Options in Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Updated Review

J Immunol Res. 2015:2015:968212. doi: 10.1155/2015/968212. Epub 2015 Dec 16.

Abstract

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a potentially curable lymphoma, and modern therapy is expected to successfully cure more than 80% of the patients. Second-line salvage high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) have an established role in the management of refractory and relapsed HL, leading to long-lasting responses in approximately 50% of relapsed patients and a minority of refractory patients. Patients progressing after intensive treatments, such as auto-SCT, have a very poor outcome. Allogeneic SCT represents the only strategy with a curative potential for these patients; however, its role is controversial. Based on recent knowledge of HL pathology, biology, and immunology, antibody-drug conjugates targeting CD30, small molecule inhibitors of cell signaling, and antibodies that inhibit immune checkpoints are currently explored. This review will discuss the clinical results regarding auto-SCT and allo-SCT as well as the current role of emerging new treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Hodgkin Disease / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Ki-1 Antigen / immunology
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Recurrence
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Ki-1 Antigen
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors