New Phase 3 Clinical Trial Opens for Pediatric, Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients

While an estimated 95% of “younger” patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma are still alive and into survivorship within five years of their diagnosis, their long-term health suffers from the aggressive treatment needed to fight the disease.

November 10, 2025

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

At a Glance

Category	Detail
Condition	Early-stage (stage 1 or 2) Hodgkin lymphoma
Key Mechanisms	Incorporation of immunotherapy (brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab) to reduce chemotherapy and radiation exposure
Target Population	Patients aged 5 to 60 with stage 1 or 2 Hodgkin lymphoma
Care Setting	Multicenter clinical trial settings including pediatric and adult oncology centers

Key Highlights

Over 95% five-year survival in younger Hodgkin lymphoma patients, but long-term treatment toxicity remains a major concern.
The AHOD2131 Phase 3 trial aims to reduce chemotherapy cycles and radiation by adding immunotherapy to standard treatment.
Trial enrollment goal is 1,875 patients over 5 years, open at over 300 sites including Roswell Park.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Stage 1 or 2 Hodgkin lymphoma with classification into favorable or unfavorable risk based on bulky mediastinal mass, nodal regions involved, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Use of PET CT after initial 2 cycles of ABVD chemotherapy to classify patients as rapid or slow responders.

Management

Standard arm: continuation of ABVD chemotherapy with cycles based on risk classification.
Experimental arm: 4 cycles of brentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab immunotherapy.
Involved site radiotherapy for slow early responders in both arms, anticipated in approximately 15% of patients.

Monitoring & Follow-up

PET CT scans to assess early response after initial chemotherapy cycles.
Patient-reported outcomes to evaluate regimen tolerability.
Correlative studies including PET volumetrics and AI-assisted response assessment.

Risks

Potential long-term complications from conventional therapy including second cancers and severe cardiovascular disease.
Exclusion of patients with autoimmune diseases due to checkpoint inhibitor use.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Pediatric and adult patients aged 5 to 60 with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.

Immunotherapy combination aims to reduce exposure to doxorubicin, bleomycin, and alkylating agents, potentially lowering long-term toxicity and improving overall survival.

Clinical Best Practices

Early risk stratification using PET CT after initial chemotherapy cycles to guide treatment intensity.
Incorporation of immunotherapy to minimize chemotherapy and radiation exposure.
Referral of eligible patients to large cooperative group clinical trials to access novel therapies.
Close monitoring of treatment response and patient-reported outcomes to optimize tolerability and efficacy.