Advanced Treatment Strategies Expanding for Youth Battling Advanced Stages of Hodgkin Lymphoma
The S1836 clinical trial, a collaborative effort between the SWOG Cancer Research Network and the National Clinical Trials Network, has made significant strides in the treatment of advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL). Hundreds of investigators were involved in the trial, with the Wilmot Cancer Institute recruiting the second highest number of HL patients.
The trial compared standard treatment with chemotherapy and brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) against the experimental immunotherapy, nivolumab (Opdivo) plus chemotherapy. The research, supported by the National Cancer Institute and Bristol-Myers Squibb, aimed to improve remission rates in patients with advanced HL by evaluating nivolumab as front-line therapy.
One participant in the trial, Hannah Lundgren, a 27-year-old registered nurse, was diagnosed with stage 4 HL in 2021. Lundgren, who made a career change from orthopedic trauma nursing to oncology nursing after being captivated by a lymphoma lecture, was randomly assigned to the immunotherapy group (nivolumab-AVD) in the clinical trial. She noticed a sudden disappearance of fatigue and palpable lymph nodes after her first treatment.
After one year, 94% of the patients treated with the experimental immunotherapy plus chemotherapy were cancer-free or had no progression of disease. This result is likely to change the standard treatment for Hodgkin Lymphoma. Lundgren, who was declared cancer-free on Dec. 7, 2021, has since gone on to enroll in a nurse practitioner program, travel to the Adirondack Mountains, run a half-marathon, and get engaged to be married.
The S1836 clinical trial included both adolescents and adults with advanced HL, with the goal of eliminating radiation therapy and its associated risks for these patients. The trial also reflected the general population in terms of the number of Black and Latino patients enrolled.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) ordered the trial to be stopped early to facilitate a faster review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval of nivolumab-AVD as an initial treatment for stage 3 or 4 HL. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is showcasing the research at a plenary session due to its high merit and great impact on oncology research.
For more detailed insights into the S1836 trial's results and implications, it is recommended to consult the latest publications or clinical trial registries dedicated to Hodgkin Lymphoma immunotherapy research. This particular trial data does not appear in the provided sources.
