A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the Wilmot Cancer Institute has shown that an immunotherapy treatment significantly raises survival rates for patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated a 92% survival rate for patients treated with the immunotherapy drug nivolumab, suggesting a new standard in care for this type of cancer.
The clinical trial, which involved nearly 1,000 patients, marks a major advancement in cancer treatment. Led by Dr. Jonathan Friedberg, director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center, the study highlights the potential of immunotherapy to not only improve survival rates but also reduce the long-term side effects associated with traditional treatments like radiation.
“We will see many fewer breast cancers, heart disease, and other complications decades down the line for patients treated with this approach,” said Friedberg. “This is a pivotal moment in Hodgkin lymphoma care.”
Immunotherapy: a new era of treatment
Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood and immune system cancer, most often affects young people, but traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation carry long-term risks, including secondary cancers and damage to the heart and lungs. Immunotherapy, which helps the body’s own immune system fight cancer, is emerging as a less toxic alternative.
“This study is part of an immunotherapy revolution,” Friedberg said, noting that this type of treatment has already proven effective in extending the lives of patients with melanoma, including former President Jimmy Carter. “We are now applying these treatments to Hodgkin lymphoma, with remarkable results.”
The trial compared the outcomes of patients receiving standard chemotherapy with brentuximab vedotin, a drug used in Hodgkin lymphoma treatment, versus those receiving chemotherapy with nivolumab. After two years, 92% of patients in the immunotherapy group were alive with no disease progression, compared to 83% in the standard care group.
Inclusive trial sets new precedent
The study was conducted through the SWOG Cancer Research Network, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded cooperative group, and included patients from hundreds of clinics across the U.S. and Canada. One-third of the participants were pediatric patients, some as young as 12, while others were older than 60. Additionally, 25% of the patients came from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
The trial is being hailed as a model for future cancer studies, as it harmonized treatments across age groups, a rare approach in clinical trials. The researchers also avoided using radiation therapy in children, which has historically caused significant side effects, to minimize long-term health risks.
“We have designed this study to be inclusive of various age groups, which allows us to introduce these novel treatments to younger populations more quickly,” said Friedberg. This approach may serve as a framework for future studies targeting both adolescent and adult cancer patients.
Next steps in treatment and regulation
With its promising results, the trial was halted early by the NCI, allowing for expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nivolumab, already approved for other cancers, is expected to become a standard treatment for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma, especially as it is more affordable and easier to administer than some other therapies.
The study’s co-authors include Dr. Alex Herrera, chief of lymphoma at City of Hope, and pediatric oncologists Dr. Kara Kelly and Dr. Sharon Castellino, who ensured that younger patients were represented in the trial.
The findings, supported by the NCI and Bristol-Myers Squibb, which produces nivolumab, are being hailed as a major step forward in treating Hodgkin lymphoma, potentially changing the course of care for many patients.
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