Pembrolizumab-GVD in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: 5-year update of a multicenter phase 2 trial
In brief
Pembrolizumab-GVD plus transplant: 91% progression-free at five years
In this 39-patient phase 2 trial of transplant-eligible patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, 95% achieved a complete response, and 36 went on to transplant. At a median 57 months, estimated five-year progression-free and overall survival were 91% and 94%; the small, single-arm study cannot establish how the regimen compares with other approaches.
- Journal
- Blood (Q1)
- Published
- 8 September 2026
- Study design
- Non-randomized / quasi-experimental trial
- Evidence level
- Level 2, Moderate (CEBM 2b)
- Authors
- Kishan Patel, Gunjan L Shah, Heiko Schöder, Nivetha Ganesan, Esther Drill, Helen Hancock, et al.
- PMID
- 42825495
- DOI
- 10.1182/blood.2026035115
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Hematology (paper of the day, 5 October 2026): 5‑year update of pembrolizumab‑GVD in relapsed cHL
Abstract
A phase II trial assessed the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and liposomal doxorubicin (pembrolizumab-GVD) in transplant-eligible patients with relapsed/refractory (rel/rel) cHL, and demonstrated a complete response (CR) rate of 95% and progression-free survival (PFS) of 100% at 13.5 months (NCT03618550). We present an updated analysis of this trial at 5 years. Eligible patients received pembrolizumab 200mg intravenous (IV) (day 1), gemcitabine 1,000mg/m2 IV (days 1 and 8), vinorelbine 20mg/m2 IV (days 1 and 8), and liposomal doxorubicin 15mg/m2 IV (days 1 and 8) in 21-day cycles, followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue (HDT/ASCR). Of 39 enrolled patients, 41% had primary refractory disease and 38% relapsed within 1 year of first-line treatment. In 38 response-evaluable patients, the CR and overall response rates after up to 4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD were 95% and 100%, respectively, with 35 patients (92%) attaining CR after only 2 cycles of therapy. Thirty-six (95%) patients underwent HDT/ASCR. After a median follow-up of 57 months, 1 patient experienced disease recurrence after per-protocol therapy, and 2 patients died from non-relapse or treatment-related causes. Estimated 5-year PFS and OS were 91% and 94%, respectively. No new safety signals were identified with extended follow-up.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.