Nivolumab-AVD Versus Brentuximab Vedotin–AVD in Older Patients With Advanced-Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma Enrolled on S1826

S Sarah C. Rutherford (Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Department of Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY) H Hongli Li (Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, and Kunming Institute of Zoology and Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) A Alex F. Herrera (10Duarte Cancer Center, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA) M Michael LeBlanc (2Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, Statistics, Seattle, United States) S Sairah Ahmed (2Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX) K Kelly Davison (8McGill University, Montreal, Canada) S Susan K. Parsons (Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Boston, MA) J Joseph M. Unger (Public Health Sciences Division Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Seattle Washington USA) A Anamarija M. Perry (26Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) C Carla Casulo (18Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY) N Nancy L. Bartlett (2Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St Louis, MO) J Joseph M. Tuscano (University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA) B Brian T. Hess (Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC) P Pallawi Torka (1memorial Sloan Kettering, NYC, United States) P Pankaj Kumar (Department of Chemistry) R Ryan Jacobs (13Carolinas Medical Center, Greenwood, United States) J Joo Y. Song S Sharon M. Castellino B Brad Kahl (8Washington University, Division of Oncology, St. Louis, United States) J John P. Leonard (Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Department of Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY) S Sonali M. Smith (3Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL) J Jonathan W. Friedberg (18Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY) A Andrew M. Evens (Division of Blood Disorders, Rutgers Cancer Institute, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ)

Abstract

Older patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) have inferior survival compared with younger patients. We report a subset analysis of older patients (60 years and older) enrolled in the phase three S1826 trial conducted by SWOG that randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage (III-IV) cHL to six cycles of nivolumab (N)–AVD or brentuximab vedotin (BV)–AVD. Of 103 enrolled patients 60 years and older, 99 were eligible. At a median follow-up of 2.1 years, the 2-year progression-free survival was 89% after N-AVD (n = 50) and 64% after BV-AVD (n = 49, HR 0.24, 95%CI 0.09-0.63, 1-sided stratified log-rank P = .001). The 2-year OS was 96% with N-AVD versus 85% with BV-AVD (HR 0.16, 95%CI 0.03-0.75 stratified 1-sided log-rank P = .005). Six cycles were delivered without dose reduction in 69% on N-AVD and 26% on BV-AVD; 55% discontinued BV, and 14% discontinued nivolumab. The nonrelapse mortality was 16% with BV-AVD and 6% with N-AVD. Despite more neutropenia with N-AVD, febrile neutropenia, sepsis, and infections were higher with BV-AVD, as was peripheral neuropathy. Patient-reported outcomes of key adverse events confirmed the improved toxicity profile of N-AVD over BV-AVD. N-AVD was better tolerated and more effective than BV-AVD and is therefore a new standard of care for older patients with advanced-stage cHL fit for anthracycline-based combination therapy.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 43, Issue 27
Published September 20, 2025
Pages 2968-2973
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (23)

S

Sarah C. Rutherford

Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Department of Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY

H

Hongli Li

Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, and Kunming Institute of Zoology and Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A

Alex F. Herrera

10Duarte Cancer Center, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA

M

Michael LeBlanc

2Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, Statistics, Seattle, United States

S

Sairah Ahmed

2Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

K

Kelly Davison

8McGill University, Montreal, Canada

S

Susan K. Parsons

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Boston, MA

J

Joseph M. Unger

Public Health Sciences Division Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Seattle Washington USA

A

Anamarija M. Perry

26Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

C

Carla Casulo

18Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

N

Nancy L. Bartlett

2Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St Louis, MO

J

Joseph M. Tuscano

University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA

B

Brian T. Hess

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

P

Pallawi Torka

1memorial Sloan Kettering, NYC, United States

P

Pankaj Kumar

Department of Chemistry

R

Ryan Jacobs

13Carolinas Medical Center, Greenwood, United States

J

Joo Y. Song

S

Sharon M. Castellino

B

Brad Kahl

8Washington University, Division of Oncology, St. Louis, United States

J

John P. Leonard

Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Department of Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY

S

Sonali M. Smith

3Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

J

Jonathan W. Friedberg

18Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

A

Andrew M. Evens

Division of Blood Disorders, Rutgers Cancer Institute, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ