Three-Year Follow-Up of Nivolumab-AVD Versus Brentuximab Vedotin–AVD in Adolescents With Advanced-Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma on S1826

S Sharon M. Castellino 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 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 Angela Punnett (9University of Toronto, Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada) D David Hodgson F Frank G. Keller (Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA) R Richard A. Drachtman (Rutgers Cancer Institute New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ) A Adam Lamble (18Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, United States) C Christopher J. Forlenza (19Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) A Andrew Doan (17Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States) 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) A Andrew M. Evens (Division of Blood Disorders, Rutgers Cancer Institute, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ) R Richard F. Little (17National Cancer Institute, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Rockville, MD) M Malcolm A. Smith (National Cancer Institute, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Bethesda, MD) B Bradford S. Hoppe (Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL) J Joo Y. Song 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) K Kara M. Kelly (Department of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY)

Abstract

We present a subset analysis on the adolescent cohort of the S1826 randomized phase three trial, comparing nivolumab, doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (N-AVD) to brentuximab vedotin-AVD (BV-AVD) in newly diagnosed advanced-stage (AS, stages III and IV) classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Among 994 patients enrolled, 24% (n = 240) were age 12-17 years. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly higher in the N-AVD group (93% [95% CI, 87 to 96]) compared with the BV-AVD group (82% [95% CI, 73 to 88]; hazard ratio, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.17 to 0.80]). One N-AVD and two BV-AVD patients received protocol-specified residual site radiotherapy (RT). Rates of febrile neutropenia and sepsis were low in both groups. Severe immune-related adverse events were infrequent, although thyroid dysfunction was seen in 7% with N-AVD. Sensory neuropathy (grade ≥2) was more frequent with BV-AVD (14% v 7%) by clinician report. Although premature discontinuation of therapy was reported in 12 N-AVD patients and four BV-AVD patients, no PFS events were noted in the N-AVD group. Patient-reported outcomes indicated less toxicity with N-AVD. N-AVD demonstrated high 3-year PFS in adolescents with AS cHL, with minimal RT use. S1826 exemplifies the benefits of harmonized clinical trial protocols, resulting in timely access to novel agents for adolescents.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 6
Published February 20, 2026
Pages 449-454
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (22)

S

Sharon M. Castellino

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

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

Angela Punnett

9University of Toronto, Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada

D

David Hodgson

F

Frank G. Keller

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

R

Richard A. Drachtman

Rutgers Cancer Institute New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

A

Adam Lamble

18Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, United States

C

Christopher J. Forlenza

19Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

A

Andrew Doan

17Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States

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

A

Andrew M. Evens

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

R

Richard F. Little

17National Cancer Institute, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Rockville, MD

M

Malcolm A. Smith

National Cancer Institute, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Bethesda, MD

B

Bradford S. Hoppe

Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

J

Joo Y. Song

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

K

Kara M. Kelly

Department of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY