BACKGROUND

Checkpoint blockade contributes to the immunosuppressive microenvironment in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and in particular the interaction of Hodgkin cells and macrophages with T‑cells and natural killer cells via programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1).

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this article is the evaluation the role and potential of checkpoint blockade in cHL as compared with the results of standard chemo- and radiotherapy.

METHODS

We analyzed preclinical and clinical data from phase I and phase II studies with checkpoint blockade in cHL.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In 60-70% of patients with chemotherapy-refractory cHL, PD‑1 blockade results in responses. Overall survival is excellent and a small number of patients achieve persistent response. Thus, the use of anti-PD‑1 monoclonal antibodies has become an important treatment approach in relapsed cHL in line with the label. The results of first-line therapy are still preliminary; initial phase II studies using nivolumab in combination with doxorubicin (=adriamycin), vinblastin and dacarbazin (AVD) in early unfavorable or advanced stages showed response rates of up to 90%. Thus, implementing immunomodulatory approaches using PD 1‑blockade have resulted in a significant reduction of chemotherapy. This might represent a paradigm shift in the therapy of cHL.