Rising to the Top: How Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors are Changing the Landscape of Treatment for Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the future management of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) in the frontline and salvage settings. Both nivolumab and pembrolizumab have high efficacy in CHL allowing for reduction of chemotherapy and possibly the use of radiotherapy based on short-term follow-up. In this review article, we highlight recent trials enrolling patients with relapse and refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma receiving monotherapy with PD-1 inhibitors as well as PD-1 and chemotherapy regimens. We also highlight frontline trials utilizing PD-1 inhibitors with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Collectively, the role for radiotherapy in the frontline or salvage setting will become more defined with long-term follow-up of completed studies and results generated from future studies.