New drug combo offers hope for older hodgkin lymphoma patients who Can't tolerate chemo

NCT ID NCT02758717

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial is testing a combination of two drugs—nivolumab and brentuximab vedotin—in 46 older adults (60+) or those unable to receive standard chemotherapy for untreated Hodgkin lymphoma. The goal is to see if this immunotherapy-based approach can shrink or eliminate tumors without the harsh side effects of traditional chemo. Participants receive the drugs intravenously over several cycles, and response is measured by PET scans.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
nivolumab and brentuximab vedotin
What this could lead to
If successful, this could offer a less toxic treatment option for older or frail patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, potentially controlling the disease without standard chemotherapy.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial (46 participants) with no control group, so results may not confirm effectiveness. Side effects from immunotherapy and the drug combination are possible.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

  • Hackensack University Medical Center

    Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States

  • Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone

    New York, New York, 10016, United States

  • M D Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007, United States

  • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

  • Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto

    Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States

  • Washington University School of Medicine

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

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