Plain-English translation of NCT04838652 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.
This trial is testing pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy medication, combined with chemotherapy to treat classical Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back or didn't respond to initial treatment. The idea is that this medication works by helping your immune system recognize and fight cancer cells, and combining it with chemotherapy might be more effective than chemotherapy alone. Researchers hope this combination will work better while causing fewer severe side effects than traditional high-dose chemotherapy.
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma that returns or doesn't respond to first-line treatment is very difficult to cure, and the standard rescue treatment (high-dose chemotherapy) is extremely toxic and hard on the body. This trial exists to see if the new treatment might offer patients a more effective option with fewer harmful side effects.
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You would first receive one dose of the medication alone, then undergo several cycles of the medication combined with chemotherapy drugs given through an IV. After two cycles, you'd have imaging scans to see how well the treatment is working, and depending on those results, you may receive additional cycles of one chemotherapy combination or another. After completing the chemotherapy phase, you would continue receiving the medication alone for six more months to help maintain the response.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 3, 2026 · Not medical advice
Germany