The purpose of this research study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of Avastin when combined with standard chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. Avastin works differently than standard chemotherapy drugs. It is a type of protein called an antibody which binds to a substance called VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). VEGF stimulates the growth of the blood vessels that feed tumors and encourages tumor cell growth. VEGF is produced in excess by Hodgkin lymphoma cells, and is associated with a poorer outcome in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. When the activity of VEGF is interrupted in multiple other cancer types, the blood vessels around the tumor cells die resulting in less nutrient delivery and death to the tumor. Blocking of VEGF has also been shown to improve delivery of chemotherapy to cancer cells, making standard chemotherapy work better. This trial uses Avastin in combination with standard chemotherapy with the goal of improving the cure rate over chemotherapy alone.
Participants will be given Avastin as well as ABVD (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine and Dacarbazine) intravenously on days 1 and 15 of a 28 day cycle. Participants will receive up to a total of 6 cycles of therapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
25
Given intravenously along with standard chemotherapy (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine and Dacarbazine) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle for a total of 6 planned cycles.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Failure-free Survival
Failure-free survival: the absence of relapse, non-relapse mortality or addition of another systemic therapy
Time frame: 2 years and median follow-up of 18 months
Overall Response Rate Using the Modified Cheson Criteria
Overall response = Complete response (CR) + Partial response (PR) CR = all previously enlarged fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid or positron emission tomography (PET)-positive lymph nodes regressed to normal size (\<=1.5cm in greatest diameter) PR = \>=50% decrease in SPD of up to six largest dominant masses, no increase in size of other nodes; FDG avid or PET positive before therapy, one or more nodes PET positive at previously involved site, or variably FDG avid or PET negative with regression at CT
Time frame: 2 years
Progression-free Survival
Progression-free survival: a patient lives with the disease but it does not get worse.
Time frame: 2 years and medium follow-up of 18 months
Overall Survival
Overall survival: patients are still alive.
Time frame: 2 years
Safety
Toxicities are graded 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), 3 (severe), and 4 (life-threatening)
Time frame: 2 years
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