Can early PET scans guide a gentler, more effective attack on hodgkin lymphoma?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Previously untreated, histologically proven classical Hodgkin lymphoma; * Staged by PET with diagnostic-quality CT (i.v. contrast). * Clinical stages according to Lugano 2014 and based on FDG/PET CT: * Stage IIB with large mediastinal mass \> 1/3 max transverse diameter thorax and/or extranodal lesion(s) * Stage III - IV * Consent to participation in translational research: * Archival tumor tissue available (15 blank formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples mounted on APES slides or a tissue block). * Women of child bearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to the first dose of study treatment. * Patients of childbearing / reproductive potential should use adequate birth control measures, as defined by the investigator, during the study treatment period and for at least 6 months after the last dose of treatment. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as a method which results in a low failure rate (i.e. less than 1 percent per year) when used consistently and correctly. * Female subjects who are breast feeding should discontinue nursing prior to the first dose of study treatment and until 6 months after the last study treatment. * Absence of any medical, psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial * Before patient registration, written informed consent must be given according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations. Exclusion Criteria: * Known cerebral or meningeal disease (HL or any other etiology), including signs or symptoms of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencenphalopathy * Symptomatic neurologic disease compromising normal activities of daily living or requiring medications * Sensory or motor peripheral neuropathy greater than or equal to grade 2 according to CTCAE version 4.0 * Any of the following cardiovascular conditions or values: within 6 months before registration: * A left-ventricular ejection fraction \<50 percent (at registration) * New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure. * Evidence of current uncontrolled cardiovascular conditions, including cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure (CHF), angina, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities * symptomatic coronary heart disease (stable angina pectoris is allowed) * severe uncontrolled hypertension within 2 years before registration * Myocardial infarction * Patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c \> 7.5 percent or a fasting blood sugar \> 200 mg/dL). * Any active systemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infection requiring systemic antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to registration. * Known HIV infection, chronic active hepatitis C, HBV positivity (HBsAg + patients; HBsAg -/HBcAb+/HBV DNA+ patients). Note: HBsAg-/HBV DNA - patients are eligible; patients who are seropositive due to vaccination are eligible * Concomitant or previous malignancies within the past 5 years with the exception of adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix , nonmelanoma skin cancer. * Previous treatment with anti CD30 antibodies * Known hypersensitivity to any excipient contained in Brentuximab Vedotin formulation and other study drugs. Refer to Summary Product Characteristics for list of excipients. * Concurrent anti-cancer treatment or use of any investigational agent(s)