Dr. Mei on Investigational CAR T-Cell Therapies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Matthew G. Mei, MD, assistant clinical professor, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and hematologist/oncologist, City of Hope, discusses investigational CAR T-cell therapies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in Hodgkin lymphoma.

Investigators are in the early stages of evaluating CD30-directed CAR T-cell therapies as well as ADCs, says Mei. In addition to brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), which is an FDA-approved CD30-targeted ADC, investigators are looking at CD25-targeted ADCs, which have shown preliminary responses in heavily pretreated patients, adds Mei. However, this is not an exhaustive list as there are several ongoing trials looking at additional immunotherapies.

The CD25-targeted ADC is currently in ongoing trials. CD25 is a promising target because it is commonly expressed on the surface of malignant lymphoma cells, explains Mei. Preliminary data have shown significant responses with this agent as well as a moderate toxicity profile. As such, it may be a potentially viable option for patients with refractory disease who have exhausted all other therapies, concludes Mei.