What to do with success? The optimist ’s creed in relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma

Publication date: Available online 8 June 2016 Source:Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia Author(s): Amir Issa, Jason Westin Checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in patients with chemotherapy resistant Hodgkin lymphoma. However, it remains unclear if these impressive agents have curative potential, or if relapse and death will eventually occur. In this review, we discuss the options for a therapeutic dilemma which is likely to occur with increasing frequency, what to do for a Hodgkin lymphoma patient who is responding the checkpoint inhibitors? We discuss the four most likely considered options: continuation of checkpoint blockade, cessation of therapy with potential re-treatment, transplantation, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. These options will require evaluation in future clinical trials, however we propose a decision strategy which could be of use to practicing clinicians until robust data is available.
Source: Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research