New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that affects about 8,000 people in the US each year. Most people diagnosed today are cured with chemotherapy, radiation, or both. Research now focuses on reducing treatment toxicity for people with early-stage disease and finding better options for the small percentage whose cancer returns.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab and pembrolizumab, antibody-drug conjugates like brentuximab vedotin, and CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed disease. Researchers are also studying ways to reduce chemotherapy intensity for people with favorable early-stage disease and testing combinations that spare radiation to lower long-term heart and lung risks.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on disease stage, whether the lymphoma is newly diagnosed or relapsed, prior treatments received, and response to recent therapy measured by PET scan.

What types of trials are currently open

• Treatment trials — Testing new drug combinations or sequences, often comparing standard chemotherapy regimens to approaches that add checkpoint inhibitors or antibody-drug conjugates.
• De-escalation trials — Testing whether people with early-stage disease can receive less treatment—fewer chemotherapy cycles or no radiation—while keeping cure rates high.
• Relapsed disease trials — Testing CAR T-cell therapy, new checkpoint inhibitor combinations, or stem cell transplant approaches for lymphoma that has returned after initial treatment.
• Biomarker studies — Using PET scans and blood tests to predict who needs more or less intensive treatment based on how quickly the cancer responds.
• Survivorship studies — Following people years after treatment to understand and prevent late effects like heart disease, lung problems, and second cancers.