Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma in the Older Adult: What's New?

Outcomes for older patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) are improving with the inclusion of novel agents into frontline therapy. The sequential brentuximab vedotin (BV) and doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (AVD) regimen was standard of care for many older adults with cHL until the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (N) and AVD showed marked tolerability and efficacy compared with BV-AVD in the SWOG S1826 randomized, phase 3 clinical trial. Palliative regimens including BV-N are options for patients who are anthracycline-ineligible, and a forthcoming clinical trial will investigate the combination of gemcitabine and pembrolizumab in this population.