Real-world evidence of ABVD-like regimens compared with ABVD in classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a 10-year study from China.

Background: Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) has been regarded as the standard treatment regimen for classical Hodgkin lymphoma. In recent years, ABVD-like regimens, which emerged due to shortages and the lung toxicity of bleomycin or the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, may be favorable, but have not yet been tested.

Methods: We compared the outcomes of ABVD with ABVD-like regimens, which include bleomycin was completely or partially omitted; meanwhile, etoposide or PD-1 inhibitors were added.

Results: 5-Year progression-free survival (PFS) was higher for ABVD than ABVD-like regimens in young patients (82.1% vs. 67.0%, p = 0.029), patients with serum beta-2 microglobulin (β2-MG) ≥ 1.85 mg/L (75.8% vs. 57.6%, p = 0.046), and advanced-stage patients with IPS score 4-7(63.1%, 18.3%, p = 0.038). For elderly (60.5% vs.76.1%, p = 0.089), patients with β2-MG < 1.85 mg/L (83.1% vs 76.1%, p = 0.282), and advanced-stage patients with IPS score 0-3(84.6% vs. 81.3%, p = 0.476), 5-year PFS for ABVD did not differ from ABVD-like regimens. Elderly patients treated with bleomycin-free regimens showed a better survival trend compared with ABVD (99.3% vs. 61.3%, p = 0.270).

Conclusion: ABVD is superior to ABVD-like regimens in achieving PFS in young patients or patients with poor prognosis including high IPS score and β2-MG level. ABVD-like regimens are as effective as ABVD in elderly or low-risk patients including low IPS score and β2-MG level; elderly patients treated with bleomycin-free regimens exhibit a better survival trend compared with ABVD.