Dr. Rizvi on Treatment Considerations in Stage III/IV Hodgkin Lymphoma

Syed Rizvi, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses treatment considerations in stage III/IV Hodgkin lymphoma.

The age of the patient, their smoking history, the condition of their lungs, and a history of lung disease, neuropathy or predisposition therein are all important factors to consider in treatment selection, says Rizvi.

Doxorubicin, vincristine, dacarbazine (AVD), and bleomycin was the standard chemotherapy for frontline treatment in North America, says Rizvi. In March 2018, the FDA approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) plus AVD (A+AVD) for up-front use, allowing for treatment to be tailored according to a patient’s comorbidities. As such, nonsmokers or those who have no history of cytopenia are typically treated with A+AVD, concludes Rizvi.