Pembrolizumab in Combination With Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Frail Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Ineligible for Standard Treatment

Summary

This phase II trial tests how well pembrolizumab in addition to chemotherapy (gemcitabine, brentuximab vedotin, and dacarbazine) works in treating frail patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma who aren't candidates for standard anthracycline-based treatment. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. Brentuximab vedotin is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates. It is made of a monoclonal antibody called brentuximab that is linked to a cytotoxic agent called vedotin. Brentuximab attaches to CD30 positive lymphoma cells in a targeted way and delivers vedotin to kill them. Dacarbazine is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's DNA and may kill cancer cells and slow down or stop cancer growth. Pembrolizumab in combination chemotherapy may be a safe and effective alternative treatment option for frail patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who can't receive standard anthracycline-based treatment.

Conditions

• Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo collection of blood samples

DRUG

Brentuximab Vedotin

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Computed Tomography

Undergo PET/CT

DRUG

Dacarbazine

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Echocardiography Test

Undergo ECHO

DRUG

Gemcitabine

Given IV

BIOLOGICAL

Pembrolizumab

Given IV

OTHER

Physical Performance Testing

Ancillary studies

PROCEDURE

Positron Emission Tomography

Undergo PET/CT

PROCEDURE

Pulmonary Function Test

Ancillary studies

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• City of Hope Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Matthew Mei · City of Hope Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-01

Primary Completion

2029-10-20

Completion

2029-10-20

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations