Long-term survival outcomes of brentuximab vedotin in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: The short-term benefits of brentuximab vedotin (BV) for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) are well established, but its long-term benefits for refractory/relapsing (r/r) cHL are unknown. A meta-analysis was undertaken to examine the overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) from relevant studies with patients with r/r cHL post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) exposed to BV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for available papers published up to January 2020. The main outcomes included 3-year OS/PFS and/or 5-year OS/PFS. Data were pooled using random-effects models. RESULTS: Four studies were included: one randomized controlled trial, one single-arm trial, and two retrospective studies. The four studies included a total of 383 patients (mean of 95.75/study). The proportion of females was 21%-89%. The median age was 26-33 years. The 3-year OS was available for one study and was 41% in patients with r/r cHL with BV after ASCT (OR=0.41. 95% CI: 0.16-0.67). The 5-year OS was available for two studies and was 34% in patients with r/r cHL with BV after ASCT (OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.19-0.48; mixed-effects model), The 5-year PFS was available for three studies and was 31% in patients with r/r cHL with BV after ASCT (OR=0.31. 95% CI: 0.02-0.61; mixed-effects model). CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year OS in patients with r/r cHL treated with BV after ASCT is 34% (95 CI: 19%-48%). The 5-year PFS in patients with r/r cHL treated with BV after ASCT is 31% (95 CI: 2%-61%).