Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Protocols 

Updated: Mar 26, 2018
Author: Francisco J Hernandez-Ilizaliturri, MD; Chief Editor: Koyamangalath Krishnan, MD, FRCP, FACP 

Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Protocols

Treatment protocols for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are provided below, including treatment for early-stage, advanced-stage, and relapsed/refractory disease.

General guidelines follow. Check specific guidelines for restaging and dosage adjustments for chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy depending on positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning throughout the various regimens.

Management of patients with early-stage favorable HL

Stages IA-IIA:

Regimens that combine chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) have replaced RT alone for treatment of early-stage, favorable disease. Involved-site radiation therapy (ISRT) is typically recommended, because high-dose, large-field radiation therapy (LFRT) increases risk for heart disease, pulmonary dysfunction, and secondary cancers.

Stage IA-IIA disease can be treated with the ABVD regimen for up to six cycles, or with the Stanford regimen for two cycles (ie, 8 weeks).

ABVD regimen

  • The ABVD regimen includes doxorubicin [Adriamycin], bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine)[1]

  • Combined modality consisting of doxorubicin 25 mg/m2 IV plusbleomycin 10 units/m2 IV plusvinblastine 6 mg/m2 IV plusdacarbazine 375 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 15; every 28 d generally for two to four cycles; followed by ISRT at a dose of 20-30 Gy (depending on German Hodgkin Study Group [GHSG] criteria)

  • Patients with fewer than two disease sites can be safely treated with two cycles of ABVD followed by ISRT; other patients with early-stage favorable HL should receive four cycles[2]

  • In selected patients with limited-stage, nonbulky HL with early response confirmed by functional imaging, ABVD for six cycles without RT has proved effective and safe.[3]

  • Imaging studies demonstrating response should be performed before proceeding with radiation therapy

  • Changes in therapy due to lack of efficacy must be supported by biopsy results documenting refractory/relapsed disease

Stanford V regimen

The Stanford V regimen includes doxorubicin, vinblastine, mechlorethamine, etoposide, vincristine, bleomycin, and prednisone given in a 28-day cycle, as follows:

  • Day 1: mechlorethamine 6 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus

  • Days 1 and 15: doxorubicin 25 mg/m2 IV and vinblastine 6 mg/m2 IV plus

  • Days 8 and 22: bleomycin 5 units/m2 IV and vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV (not to exceed 2 mg/dose) plus

  • Days 15 and 16: etoposide 60 mg/m2 IV plus

  • Prednisone 40 mg/m2 PO every other day during weeks 1-6 (taper during weeks 7 and 8)

  • Follow with ISRT 30 Gy within 3 weeks of chemotherapy completion

Management of patients with early-stage, unfavorable, nonbulky/bulky HL

Stages I-II unfavorable, bulky disease[1, 4, 5, 6] :

  • ABVD regimen for four cycles followed by ISRT or
  • Stanford V regimen for three cycles (12 weeks) plus ISRT or
  • Escalated BEACOPP for two cycles then ABVD for two cycles plus ISRT

Stages I-II unfavorable, nonbulky disease[1, 4, 6] :

  • ABVD regimen for two cycles (initially with staging and additional ABVD cycles as warranted) or
  • Stanford V regimen for two cycles then ABVD for two cycles + ISRT or
  • Escalated BEACOPP for two cycles then ABVD for two cycles + ISRT
  • [4]

ABVD regimen:

  • Combined modality consisting of doxorubicin 25 mg/m 2 IV plus   bleomycin 10 IU/m 2 IV plus   vinblastine 6 mg/m 2 IV plus  dacarbazine 375 mg/m 2 IV on days 1 and 15; every 28 d for two cycles (for nonbulky disease) or four cycles (bulky) +/- ISRT 30 Gy or systemic chemotherapy with ABVD for six cycles [1, 4]
  • ISRT at 30 Gy should be strongly considered for patients with bulky disease or those exhibiting a slow response to therapy, as confirmed by functional imaging with PET (ie, patients with PET scan–avid disease after four cycles of ABVD)
  • Changes in therapy due to lack of efficacy must be supported by biopsy results documenting proven refractory/relapsed disease          

Stanford V regimen:

The Stanford V regimen includes doxorubicin, vinblastine, mechlorethamine, etoposide, vincristine, bleomycin, and prednisone given in a 28-day cycle, as follows[5] :

  • Day 1: mechlorethamine 6 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus

  • Days 1 and 15: doxorubicin 25 mg/m2 IV and vinblastine 6 mg/m2 IV plus

  • Days 8 and 22: bleomycin 5 units/m2 IV and vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV (not to exceed 2 mg/dose) plus

  • Days 15 and 16: etoposide 60 mg/m2 IV plus

  • Prednisone 40 mg/m2 PO every other day during weeks 1-10 (taper during weeks 11 and 12)

  • Follow within 3 weeks with ISRT 36 Gy in patients with stage 1-2 bulky mediastinal disease or bulky disease >10 cm; for nonbulky disease, use ISRT 30-36 Gy based upon presence of B symptoms

Escalated BEACOPP:

Escalated BEACOPP includes bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone in a combined-modality 21-day cycle consisting of the following:

  • Day 1: Cyclophosphamide 1,200 mg/m2 PO plus doxorubicin 35 mg/m2 IV plus

  • Days 1-3: etoposide 200 mg/m2 IV plus

  • Days 1-7: procarbazine 100 mg/m2 PO plus

  • Days 1-14: prednisone 40 mg PO plus

  • Day 8: vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV (not to exceed 2 mg/dose) plus bleomycin 10 mg/m2 IV, follow by

  • Two 28-day cycles of ABVD and then ISRT

Management of patients with advanced-stage HL

Stages III-IV:

  • ABVD for up to six cycles +/- ISRT[7]  or

  • Stanford V for three cycles (12 weeks) if International Prognostic Score (IPS) <3, +/- ISRT

  • Patients with advanced HL and IPS ≥4 should be treated with dose-escalated BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) for four cycles, followed by either four standard doses of BEACOPP (bleomycin 10 units/m2 IV on day 8 plus etoposide 100 mg/m2 IV on days 1-3 plus doxorubicin 25 mg/m2 IV on day 1 pluscyclophosphamide 650 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV [not to exceed 2 mg/dose] on day 8 plusprocarbazine 100 mg/m2 PO on days 1-7 plus prednisone 40 mg/m2 PO on days 1-14; every 21 d) if early responders[8] OR

  • For slow responders, administer four additional dose-escalated BEACOPP (bleomycin 10 units/m2 IV on day 8 plus etoposide 200 mg/m2 IV on days 1-3 plus doxorubicin 35 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus cyclophosphamide 1200 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV [not to exceed 2 mg/dose] on day 8 plus procarbazine 100 mg/m2 PO on days 1-7 plus prednisone 40 mg/m2 PO on days 1-14; every 21d)[8]

  • ISRT should be strongly considered following any of the above chemotherapy regimens for patients with bulky disease or those exhibiting a slow response to therapy by functional imaging (PET scan)

  • Changes in therapy due to lack of efficacy must be supported by biopsy results documenting refractory/relapsed disease

Previously untreated stage III-IV classical HL:

  • Brentuximab vedotin plus AVD is indicated as first-line therapy for previously untreated stage III-IV classical HL [9]
  • Brentuximab 1.2 mg/kg IV (not to exceed 120 mg/dose) plus doxorubicin 25 mg/m 2 IV plus vinblastine 6 mg/m 2 IV plus dacarbazine 375 mg/m 2 IV on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle for up to 6 cycles

Treatment recommendations for relapsed/refractory HL

See the list below:

  • It has been estimated that approximately 20-30% of patients with HL do not achieve a long-term remission with front-line chemotherapy

  • Salvage therapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDC-ASCT) can cure approximately 50% of patients (see below)[10]

  • Based on the British Columbia data, the best timing for HDC-ASCT is after the first relapse[11]

Regimens for patients eligible for HDC-ASCT (treatment goal = cure):

  • Many regimens are used in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); these are primarily based on chemotherapy agents non–cross-resistant to those used in the front-line setting, with or without rituximab

  • The goal of salvage regimens is to achieve maximum tumor burden cytoreduction in preparation for HDC-ASCT[12]

  • ICE regimen (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide)[13] : Ifosfamide 5 g/m2 IV on day 2 pluscarboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5 (not to exceed 800 mg/dose) on day 1 plus etoposide 100 mg/m2 IV daily on days 1-3; every 14 d for two cycles (see the Carboplatin AUC Dose Calculation [Calvert formula] calculator)

  • DHAP regimen (high-dose cytarabine [Ara-C], cisplatin, and dexamethasone)[14] : Dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1-4 pluscytarabine at 2 g/m2 IV every 12 h for two doses on day 2, pluscisplatin 100 mg/m2 IV on day 1; every 21 days for two cycles

  • ESHAP regimen (etoposide, methylprednisolone, Ara-C, and cisplatin)[15] : Etoposide 40 mg/m2/day IV plusmethylprednisolone 500 mg/day IV plus cisplatin at 25 mg/m2/day continuous IV infusion for 4 d plus cytarabine 2 g/m2 on day 5; every 21-28 d for three cycles (transplant candidate)

Regimens for patients who are not eligible for HDC-ASCT or patients who have relapsed/refractory disease after HDC-ASCT

Unfortunately, patients who are not eligible for HDC-ASCT or in whom HDC-ASCT has failed remain a challenge for the treating oncologist, pointing to the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Second-line therapies include the following[16] :

  • Brentuximab vedotin[17, 18] : 1.8 mg/kg IV infused over 30 min q3wk; continue treatment, not to exceed 16 cycles, or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

  • Nivolumab is indicated for classical HL that has relapsed or progressed after ASCT and post-transplantation brentuximab vedotin[19, 20]

  • Nivolumab dosage is 240 mg IV q2wk or 480 mg q4wk over 30 min until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

  • Pembrolizumab is indicated for adult and pediatric patients with refractory classical HL or who have relapsed after 3 or more prior lines of therapy[21]

  • Pembrolizumab dosage is 200 mg IV q3wk over 30 min until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (for up to 24 months)

  • Everolimus 10 mg PO once daily

  • C-MOPP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone): cyclophosphamide 650 mg/m2 plus vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 (not to exceed 2 mg/dose) on day 1 plus procarbazine 100 mg/m2/day PO on days 1-7 plus prednisone 40 mg/m2/day PO on days 1-14; every 28 d

  • ESHAP regimen (etoposide, methylprednisolone, Ara-C, and cisplatin)[15] : Etoposide 40 mg/m2/day IV plus methylprednisolone 500 mg/day IV plus cisplatin 25 mg/m2/day continuous IV infusion on days 1-4 plus cytarabine 2 g/m2 on day 5; every 21-28 d for six cycles (nontransplant candidate)

  • GCD (gemcitabine, carboplatin, dexamethasone): gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8 plus carboplatin AUC 5 IV on day 1 plus dexamethasone 40 mg/day PO on days 1-4

  • GVD (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, liposomal doxorubicin): vinorelbine 20 mg/m2 IV plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 IV plus doxorubicin liposomal 15 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8; every 21d for 2-6 cycles

  • IGEV (ifosfamide, gemcitabine, vinorelbine): 2000 mg/m2 IV plus mesna 2600 mg/m2 IV plus gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 on days 1-4 plus vinorelbine 20 mg/m2 on day 1

  • Mini-BEAM (carmustine, cytarabine, etoposide, melphalan): carmustine 60 mg/m2 on day 1 plus etoposide 75 mg/m2/day IV plus cytarabine 100 mg/m2 q12h on days 2-5 plus melphalan 30 mg/m2 IV on day 6; every 4-6 weeks

  • MINE (etoposide, ifosfamide, mesna, mitoxantrone): ifosfamide 1.33 g/m2/day IV plus mesna 1.33 g/m2/day IV (with ifosfamide), then mesna 500 mg PO 4 hr after each ifosfamide dose plus etoposide 65 mg/m2/day IV on days 1-3 plus mitoxantrone 8 mg/m2 IV on day 1

  • Histone deacetylase inhibitors,[22] immunomodulatory drugs, and adoptive cell transfer are therapeutic strategies with promising antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with HL

  • Referral of patients with relapsed/refractory HL is mandatory to further improve the clinical outcome of such patients.

Third-line therapies[16]

  • Bendamustine in patients who have failed HDT/ASCR or at least 2 prior multiagent chemotherapy regimens: 120 mg/m2 on days 1-2; every 28d for up to 6 cycles

  • Lenalidomide: 25 mg PO once daily on days 1-21; every 28d