Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) Clinical Trials

About Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) trials

Hodgkin lymphoma trials are organized around two questions: subtype (classical Hodgkin lymphoma vs nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma) and stage / treatment intent. CD30 expression is the foundational biomarker for classical Hodgkin lymphoma, present on Reed-Sternberg cells in roughly 95% of cHL, and is the target of brentuximab vedotin (BV), now standard in front-line cHL therapy. PD-L1 (CD274) is uniquely overexpressed in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (commonly via 9p24.1 amplification), making cHL one of the most IO-responsive cancers; this gates checkpoint inhibitor trials. CD20 expression is characteristic of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and supports rituximab-based approaches; classical Hodgkin lymphoma is defined more by CD30 expression and 9p24.1/PD-L1 biology. CD19 is included because some emerging cellular therapy and bispecific antibody trials in lymphoma include both cHL and B-cell NHL cohorts under shared protocols.

The Hodgkin lymphoma trial set divides by subtype, line of therapy, and treatment goal. Front-line classical Hodgkin lymphoma trials test the new standard of nivolumab + AVD chemotherapy (post-SWOG S1826) against historical comparators like brentuximab + AVD or ABVD, and test additions and intensifications. Pediatric and adolescent / young adult cHL trials run primarily through cooperative-group networks, with similar IO + chemo strategies and survivorship-focused designs that aim to maintain cure rates while reducing late effects (cardiac toxicity, fertility, second malignancy). R/R classical Hodgkin lymphoma trials test brentuximab combinations, IO combinations, CD30-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, novel bispecific antibodies, and post-autologous-transplant maintenance strategies. Pretransplant trials test bridging regimens to maximize response before autologous stem cell transplant. NLPHL trials are smaller in number and focus on rituximab-based regimens, observation for early-stage disease, and novel approaches for the rare patient who progresses on rituximab.

Common eligibility filters in Hodgkin lymphoma trials include subtype, stage, and prior brentuximab and IO exposure. Subtype confirmation (classical vs nodular lymphocyte-predominant) by hematopathology review is foundational because the two subtypes have distinct trial sets. Stage at enrollment (early favorable, early unfavorable, advanced) gates many trials, especially front-line. Prior ABVD or brentuximab + AVD or nivolumab + AVD as front-line therapy and which regimen matter for line-specific R/R trials. Prior brentuximab vedotin exposure (and the specific regimen) defines whether BV-pretreated trials apply. Prior IO exposure gates post-IO trials. Prior autologous stem cell transplant status and time since transplant for post-transplant maintenance trials. Bulky disease status. Performance status, with most trials accepting ECOG 0-2 in adult HL trials. Pediatric trials use Lansky or Karnofsky scoring depending on age. CD30 expression status is required for CD30-targeted trials.

Biomarkers tested in Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) trials

These are the molecular markers most commonly required or evaluated in Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) eligibility criteria. OncoMatch extracts them from each trial's protocol and matches them against your test results.