A Curative Regimen for Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma?

Patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) typically have poorer outcomes with combination chemotherapy than do those with most B-cell lymphomas.

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-sponsored, multicenter, phase I trial to test the effectiveness of adding the anti-CD30 drug-antibody conjugate brentuximab vedotin (BV) to combination therapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (CHP) in 26 patients with newly diagnosed CD30-positive PTCL. Of these patients, 16 had ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma, 3 had ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and 7 had other subtypes of CD30-positive PTCL. After 6 cycles of BV-CHP, responding patients could receive ongoing BV once every 3 weeks for a total of 16 doses.

All patients responded, and 22 had complete remission. At a median follow-up of 5 years from the first dose, 50% of patients remained in remission without further antilymphoma therapy. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 19 patients, although most symptoms improved or resolved over time.