New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that's highly treatable, with cure rates above 80% for most people. Standard treatment combines chemotherapy and sometimes radiation. Research now focuses on avoiding long-term side effects in people who are cured and on better options for the small group whose disease returns.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab and pembrolizumab, which have already earned FDA approval for relapsed disease and are now being studied earlier in treatment. Brentuximab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate approved in 2011, is being combined with chemotherapy to improve cure rates while reducing exposure to bleomycin, a drug that can damage lungs. Studies are also exploring ways to identify who can skip radiation entirely.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on disease stage, whether this is initial treatment or relapse, prior therapies received, and overall health including heart and lung function.

What types of trials are currently open

• First-line treatment trials — Testing whether adding checkpoint inhibitors or brentuximab vedotin to standard chemotherapy improves cure rates or reduces long-term side effects.
• Relapsed disease trials — Studies for people whose lymphoma returned, often testing combinations of checkpoint inhibitors, brentuximab vedotin, and chemotherapy before transplant.
• Transplant trials — Testing stem cell transplant timing and preparation regimens, usually for people whose disease didn't respond to initial treatment.
• Radiation de-escalation trials — Using PET scans after chemotherapy to identify who can skip radiation and avoid long-term risks to heart and lungs.
• Survivorship studies — Following people after treatment to understand late effects like heart disease and second cancers, and to test screening strategies.