Brentuximab Vedotin: A Review of Its Use in Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma and Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Following Previous Treatment Failure

Brentuximab vedotin (ADCETRIS^®) is an antibody-drug conjugate that is specifically targeted against CD30-positive cancer cells such as those in Hodgkin lymphoma or systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Intravenous brentuximab vedotin was associated with an overall objective response rate (primary endpoint) of 75 % in 102 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who had relapsed after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in a noncomparative, multicentre, phase II trial. In 58 patients with relapsed systemic ALCL after at least one prior treatment, intravenous brentuximab vedotin was associated with an overall objective response rate (primary endpoint) of 86 % in a noncomparative, multicentre, phase II trial. Tumour reductions were observed in 94 % of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and 97 % of patients with systemic ALCL, and most tumours decreased in size by >65 % and >85 %, respectively. The estimated 12-month survival rates were 89 % and 52 %, respectively. Brentuximab vedotin was generally well tolerated in these trials. The most common adverse event was peripheral neuropathy; approximately one-half of patients with this adverse event experienced complete resolution.