What is Lymphoma?
Hodgkin Lymphoma: Treatment Options
Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly curable form of cancer. Most people with Hodgkin lymphoma will receive combination chemotherapy, some with and some without radiation. Other treatments may include stem cell or bone marrow transplantation.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma often consists of giving multiple drugs together, called combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapies used in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- ABVD: Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex); Bleomycin (Blenoxane); Vinblastine (Velban, Velsar); and Dacarbazine (DTIC)
- Stanford V: Mechlorethamine (Mustargen); Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex); Vinblastine (Velban, Velsar); Bleomycin (Blenoxane); Etoposide (VP-16, VePesid); Prednisone (Deltasone); and Involved Field radiation
- BEACOPP: Bleomycin (Blenoxane); Etoposide (VP-16, Vepesid); Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex); Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan); Vincristine (Oncovin); Procarbazine (Matulane); and Prednisone (Deltasone)
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy used in the frontline treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Brentuximab vedotin (ADCETRIS) + AVD [Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex); Vinblastine (Velban, Velsar); and Dacarbazine (DTIC)]
Radiation Therapy
Radiation may be combined with chemotherapy. Hodgkin lymphoma generally spreads predictably from one lymph node to another. When the lymphoma is confined to a specific area of the body, for example, the neck, involved-field radiation may be given, meaning the therapy is limited to a small area. When radiation therapy is given more broadly to larger common areas, it is called extended-field radiation.
To learn more about treatment options for HL, download our Understanding Lymphoma and CLL/SLL Guide.