Italian expert panel consensus statement on the optimal use of PD-1 blockade therapy in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Programmed death 1 (PD-1) blocking antibodies now represent a major advance in the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and pre- and/or post-ASCT brentuximab vedotin or after at least three lines of therapy. However, uncertainties still remain on the optimal use of these agents in refractory Hodgkin disease. A panel of experts was convened to produce a consensus document aimed at providing practice recommendations for the optimal use of PD-1 blocking antibodies in cHL, especially on pretreatment selection and evaluation of cHL patients’ response and treatment length, management of PD-1 blockade therapy–treated patients, evaluation and management of toxicity. Our hope is that these recommendations might help hematologists to improve optimal management of patients with pretreated cHL.

Keywords:

• Hodgkin lymphoma
• checkpoint inhibitors
• practice guidelines

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the patients and their families for their support.

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2018.1519808.