AzTrials
AzTrials

Classical Hodgkin LymphomaPhase 2NCT05404945

Fitness-adapted, Pembrolizumab-based Therapy for Untreated Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients 60 Years of Age and Above

A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab, Doxorubicin and Vinblastine in people with Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, run by University of Virginia at 3 sites in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This is a multi-center, open-label phase II study to assess the efficacy of a novel fitness-adapted regimen in previously untreated older patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. All participants will receive up to a total of 8 cycles of pembrolizumab (Q6 week dosing). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 60 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
What is being tested?
Pembrolizumab, Doxorubicin and Vinblastine
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
24 participants
Where
3 sitesUnited States
Study dates
26 Jul 2022to 3 Oct 2027
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 60 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants of any sex who are ≥60 years of age on day 1, cycle 1.
  • The participant must be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial and participate in all planned study procedures.
  • Histologically confirmed diagnosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma
  • PET-avid, measurable disease (≥1.5cm bi-dimensional measurement)
  • Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 to
  • PS 2 may be allowed at the discretion of the treating investigator if impairment is considered to be primarily lymphoma-related. Evaluation of ECOG is to be performed within 10 days prior to the date of registration.
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Participants who have received involved field radiation will be allowed. However, they will be excluded if any of the following are true:
  • Radiation was dosed ≤6 months from registration.
  • Radiation was delivered to > 1 lymph node group as defined by the NCCN criteria.
  • The radiation dose was ≥30 Gy.
  • The participant has radiation-related toxicities ≥ Grade 2 at the time of registration.
  • The participant requires corticosteroids for radiation-related toxicities at the time of registration (regardless of dose).
  • The participant has ever experienced radiation pneumonitis.
  • Have adequate organ function as defined per protocol. Specimens must be collected within 10 days prior to registration (confirmation of eligibility).

Who cannot join

  • Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Life expectancy < 6 months for any reason excluding lymphoma
  • Has received prior therapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, against targets including but not limited to PD1, PDL1, PDL2, CTLA-4, OX40, or LAG 3 unless given with curative intent for reasons other than lymphoma AND the last dose was more than 3 years from registration. Any participant who received prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy will be excluded if they experienced any toxicity related to or possibly related to the immunotherapy that required discontinuation of drug.
  • Prior systemic therapy for cHL, with the exception of steroids
  • If participant received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting study treatment.
  • Presence of Grade ≥ 2 sensory and/or motor neuropathy
Show all 26Show fewer
  • Prior solid organ or stem cell transplant.
  • Clinical suspicion or evidence of active involvement of lymphoma into the spinal cord, cerebral spinal fluid, or brain. External compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots is not considered involvement.
  • Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Administration of killed vaccines, subunit vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines is allowed.
  • Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
  • Note: Participants who have entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been 4 weeks after the last dose of the previous investigational agent.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent [excluding steroids needed for lymphoma related symptoms]) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
  • Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ (excluding carcinoma in situ of the bladder) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.
  • Has known severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Interstitial lung disease or a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease.
  • Any known history of pancreatitis as defined by Gandhi et al. 201432,36.
  • Has an active infection requiring oral or intravenous systemic therapy.
  • Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
  • Has a known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection. Prior exposure to hepatitis B is allowed as long as there are no HBsAg detected (ie positive Hepatitis B core antibody with negative HBsAg). Prior treatment with Hepatitis C is allowed if the screening HCV RNA by PCR is negative.
  • Has a known history of active tuberculosis (TB; Mycobacterium tuberculosis).
  • Is currently taking a strong CYP3A4 modulator. Subjects taking strong CYP34A modulators that can safely stop these medications prior to treatment should complete a washout period of 4 weeks or 5 times the half-life of a particular drug, whichever is shorter.
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
  • Note: given older age at enrollment, WOCBP are not anticipated to enroll on this study.

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

United States3 sites
  • University of Virginia

    Charlottesville, Virginia, 22911

  • Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

    New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08902-2681

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Fitness-adapted, Pembrolizumab-based Therapy for Untreated Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients 60 Years of Age and Above (cHL 001)

This is a multi-center, open-label phase II study to assess the efficacy of a novel fitness-adapted regimen in previously untreated older patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. All participants will receive up to a total of 8 cycles of pembrolizumab (Q6 week dosing). The first cycle of pembrolizumab will be administered in combination with brentuximab vedotin (BV) ("lead-in treatment").

Following lead-in treatment, all participants will undergo interim PET/CT (iPET) as well as fitness testing to help inform participant level of fitness for subsequent lymphoma-directed therapies.

Read more

Participants deemed "Frail" by this assessment will continue 3 additional 6 week cycles of concurrent pembrolizumab and BV ("induction therapy", each cycle is 42 days), then continue single-agent pembrolizumab to complete up to 4 additional cycles (i.e., 8 total) of therapy ("consolidation and maintenance therapy", Frail cohort). Two additional BV doses will be given as consolidation, at days 1 and 22 of pembrolizumab cycle 5.

Those deemed "fit" after lead-in therapy (Fit cohort) will continue pembrolizumab and switch from BV to concurrently-administered combination chemotherapy using doxorubicin (A), vinblastine (V), and dacarbazine (D) for a total of 4 planned AVD cycles (3, 6-week pembrolizumab cycles, "induction therapy"). Chemotherapy drugs will be given at standard doses as in ABVD (no bleomycin will be given in this study) on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle (C1AVD), and pembrolizumab dosing will remain every 42 days. Following end-induction PET/CT, pembrolizumab will continue every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the consolidation/maintenance phase. Two additional BV doses will be given as consolidation, at days 1 and 22 of pembrolizumab cycle 5.

Participants deemed "unfit" after lead-in therapy and by fitness assessment will continue pembrolizumab and switch from BV to concurrently administered combination chemotherapy termed "mini-avd" as induction therapy. Mini-avd consists of lower doses of conventional AVD chemotherapy (doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) and will be administered for on days 1 and 15 of a 28 day cycle for 4 planned cycles. Pembrolizumab will continue every 42 days. Following end-induction PET/CT, pembrolizumab will continue every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the consolidation/maintenance phase. Two additional BV doses will be given as consolidation, at days 1 and 22 of pembrolizumab cycle 5.

Being tested
Pembrolizumab, Doxorubicin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine, Brentuximab vedotin

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PembrolizumabDrug

    Pembrolizumab 400 mg IV

  • DoxorubicinDrug

    Also called Adriamycin

    Doxorubicin 25mg/m2 IV

  • VinblastineDrug

    Vinblastine 6mg/m2 IV

  • DacarbazineDrug

    Dacarbazine 375mg/m2 IV

  • Brentuximab vedotinDrug

    Brentuximab vedotin 1.8 mg/kg IV

Study groups in NCT05404945
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Fit CohortExperimentalThree 6-week cycles of 400 mg intravenous pembrolizumab + intravenous AVD (q 2 weeks).
Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Doxorubicin; Drug: Vinblastine; Drug: Dacarbazine; Drug: Brentuximab vedotin
Frail CohortActive comparatorThree 6-week cycles of 400 mg intravenous pembrolizumab and concurrent (q 3 week) intravenous brentuximab vedotin (BV).
Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Doxorubicin; Drug: Vinblastine; Drug: Dacarbazine; Drug: Brentuximab vedotin
Unfit CohortActive comparatorThree 6-week cycles of 400 mg intravenous pembrolizumab and mini-AVD (q 2 weeks).
Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Doxorubicin; Drug: Vinblastine; Drug: Dacarbazine; Drug: Brentuximab vedotin

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Complete Remission Rate

    Evaluate complete remission rate as defined by LYRIC criteria at end of induction in fit and unfit older participants with cHL following anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

    Measured: 2 years

  2. Incidence of grade 3-5 treatment-related AEs

    Assess tolerance and safety of a fitness-adapted pembrolizumab-based regimen in fit older participants with cHL based on incidence of grade 3-5 treatment-related AEs (CTCAE v5.0)

    Measured: 2 years

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. 2-year PFS, 2-year OS, 2-year Lymphoma Specific Survival in the fit older population following pembrolizumab-based adaptive therapy

    Evaluate the efficacy, as determined by the 2-year progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and 2-year lymphoma specific survival in the fit older population.

    Measured: 2 years

  2. Complete remission rate (by LYRIC criteria), 2-year PFS, 2-year OS, 2-year Lymphoma Specific Survival in the Frail older population

    Evaluate the efficacy of a chemotherapy-free approach (pembrolizumab plus BV), as determined by the complete remission rate (LYRIC criteria), 2-year progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and 2-year lymphoma specific survival in participants who are not frail for anthracycline-based therapy.

    Measured: 2 years

  3. Complete remission rate (LYRIC criteria) after lead-in BV/pembrolizumab

    Assess the efficacy of short course lead-in therapy and correlation with end-induction treatment efficacy for all participants.

    Measured: 2 years

  4. Incidence of grade 2-5 immune-related toxicities (CTCAE v5.0)

    Assess safety, as determined by the frequency of higher-grade immune-related adverse events for all participants.

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted3 Jun 2022
  2. Study start26 Jul 2022
  3. Primary completion3 Oct 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion3 Oct 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
24 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05404945
Sponsor's protocol ID
cHL001
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
22 May 2022
Last updated
14 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab, Doxorubicin and Vinblastine in people with Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, run by University of Virginia at 3 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 14 inclusion and 26 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Complete Remission Rate (time frame: 2 years). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 May 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in