Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) increased progression-free survival to 43 months when given to adults with hard-to-treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma immediately after stem cell transplant, compared to 24 months for placebo, according to research published online March 18 in The Lancet.
As part of the AETHERA phase III trial, 329 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma who were at high risk of relapse or progression after autologous stem cell transplant were given brentuximab vedotin infusions or placebo every 3 weeks for up to 16 cycles. After a 2-year follow-up, the cancer had not progressed in 65% of the patients in the treatment group, compared with 45% in the placebo group.
The most common side effects were peripheral neuropathy (67% vs. 13% placebo) and neutropenia (35% vs. 12% placebo), noted Dr. Craig Moskowitz of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and his associates. Read the full article here .
