pembrolizumab + gemcitabine + brentuximab vedotin + dacarbazine

This combination regimen is a chemo-immunotherapy backbone being evaluated for the treatment of frail patients with newly diagnosed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who are ineligible for standard anthracycline-based treatments. The regimen integrates the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab with a chemotherapy cocktail consisting of gemcitabine, the CD30-targeted antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin, and the alkylating agent dacarbazine. Pembrolizumab works by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, thereby reinvigorating the immune system's T-cells to attack malignant Reed-Sternberg cells. Brentuximab vedotin provides targeted delivery of the microtubule-disrupting agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) to CD30-expressing cells. Gemcitabine and dacarbazine provide additional systemic cytotoxicity by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing DNA damage, respectively. This study is primarily led by City of Hope Medical Center.

Brand names

KeytrudaAdcetris

Other names

Pembrolizumab with chemotherapyPembrolizumab plus Gemcitabine, Brentuximab Vedotin, and Dacarbazine