Hodgkin Lymphoma

Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy options.

Back to All Treatments
Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hematologic Malignancies

Overview

Hodgkin lymphoma is highly curable, especially in early stages. Treatment depends on stage, bulk of disease, and risk factors. Modern protocols achieve >90% cure rates. Treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.

When to Consult

After lymph node biopsy confirms Hodgkin lymphoma, persistent enlarged lymph nodes, night sweats, weight loss, or fever.

What to Bring

Biopsy report, PET-CT scan, bone marrow biopsy, blood test results, EBV testing, and staging workup results.

Risk Factors

Age (bimodal: young adults 20-30s and older adults 50+)
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection
Family history of Hodgkin lymphoma
Weakened immune system (HIV, organ transplant)
Male gender
Socioeconomic factors
Previous infectious mononucleosis
Autoimmune conditions

Causes

Viral infections (EBV in many cases)
Genetic factors and mutations
Immune system dysfunction
Chronic inflammation
Environmental factors
Epigenetic changes
Abnormal B-cell development
Reed-Sternberg cell formation

Treatment Options

ABVD Chemotherapy

Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine. Standard first-line regimen. Typically 4-6 cycles. Highly effective with manageable side effects.

BEACOPP

Bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone. More intensive regimen for advanced or high-risk disease.

AVD (ABVD without bleomycin)

Modified regimen avoiding bleomycin to reduce lung toxicity risk. Used in selected patients.

Radiation Therapy

Involved-field or involved-site radiation after chemotherapy. Lower doses than historical protocols. May be omitted in selected early-stage patients with complete response to chemotherapy.

Brentuximab Vedotin

Antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD30. Highly effective for relapsed/refractory disease. Also used as consolidation after autologous transplant.

Immunotherapy

Nivolumab or pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitors) for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Remarkable response rates. May be used alone or combined with other agents.

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

High-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell rescue for relapsed disease. Standard treatment for first relapse. Often combined with brentuximab vedotin.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Donor stem cell transplant for multiply relapsed disease. Graft-versus-lymphoma effect. Reserved for selected patients.

PET-Adapted Therapy

Treatment intensity adjusted based on interim PET scan results. Allows de-escalation for good responders or intensification for poor responders.

Need Treatment?

Schedule a consultation to discuss treatment options for Hodgkin Lymphoma .