New treatment combination offers excellent results for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma with less chemotherapy
MD Anderson Research News January 15, 2026
More than 90% of patients had a complete response to novel treatment combination
After two years, 97% of patients remained cancer free
Patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma had impressive response rates when treated with a novel combination of therapies – brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab combined with chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin and dacarbazine – according to a new study published in Blood.
“By pairing modern targeted therapies with a shorter course of chemotherapy, we’re seeing strong outcomes that improve historical standards and reduce treatment intensity,” said senior author Hun Ju Lee, M.D., associate professor of Lymphoma.
What were the key findings of this study?
A total of 154 patients were treated with the novel combination on this trial. Ninety-six percent of patients had some level of response to treatment, and 92% had a complete response with no signs of cancer seen on scans after treatment.
These high response rates were observed in both lower-risk and higher-risk early-stage patients. Among those who achieved a complete response, 96% stayed in complete remission for at least two years. At 28 months of follow-up, 97% of patients were alive without their cancer returning.
Side effects were common for patients but manageable. Of note, no patients experienced febrile neutropenia.
What do study results mean for future treatment of these patients?
Traditionally, patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma are treated with the standard chemotherapy combination, and some also receive radiation. In this study, researchers determined that the new combination may allow patients to receive less chemotherapy.
“This treatment is highly effective and a promising option for people with early-stage, non-bulky Hodgkin lymphoma,” Lee said.
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This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (P30 CA008748) and Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in 2023. For a full list of collaborating authors, disclosures and funding sources, see the full paper in Blood.
By pairing modern targeted therapies with a shorter course of chemotherapy, we’re seeing strong outcomes that improve historical standards and reduce treatment intensity.