Phase II Study of Second- Line Pembrolizumab Plus GVD for Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

August 6, 2026 updated by: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Phase II Study of Second-line Pembrolizumab Plus GVD for Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

The purpose of this study is to test any good and bad effects of the study drug, pembrolizumab, in combination with GVD in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

257

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Heiko Schoder, MD
  • Phone Number: 212-639-2079

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Duarte, California, United States, 91010
        • Not yet recruiting
        • City of Hope Cancer Center (Data Collection Only)
        • Contact:
          • Matthew Mei, MD
          • Phone Number: 626-275-8064
      • Stanford, California, United States, 94305-5408
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Stanford University Medical Center
        • Contact:
          • Ranjana Advani, MD
          • Phone Number: 650-498-6000
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33136
        • Recruiting
        • University of Miami
        • Contact:
          • Craig Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 305-243-5302
    • New Jersey
      • Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States, 07920
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839
      • Middletown, New Jersey, United States, 07748
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839
      • Montvale, New Jersey, United States, 07645
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839
    • New York
      • Commack, New York, United States, 11725
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Commack
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839
      • Harrison, New York, United States, 10604
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839
      • New York, New York, United States, 10065
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839
        • Contact:
          • Heiko Schoder, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-2079
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
      • Uniondale, New York, United States, 11553
        • Recruiting
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau
        • Contact:
          • Alison Moskowitz, MD
          • Phone Number: 212-639-4839

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histologic diagnosis of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. Primary refractory or relapsed disease proven by biopsy at enrolling institution.
  • Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
  • Be ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  • PET scan before initiating pembro-GVD have measurable disease based on Lugano 2014 criteria
  • Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in table below
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in table below. Hematological*
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1000 /mcL
  • Platelets ≥50,000 / mcL
  • Hemoglobin ≥8 g/dL Renal
  • Serum creatinine OR ≤1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) OR
  • Measured or calculated creatinine clearance (eGFR can also be used in place of creatinine) ≥60 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels > 1.5 X institutional ULN Hepatic*
  • Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN OR ≤ 3 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases
  • AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN OR ≤ 5 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases Pulmonary
  • Hemoglobin-adjusted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide ≥50% (If unadjusted DLCO is >/= 50% then there is no need to calculate adjusted) Cardiac
  • Ejection fraction ≥45% Coagulation

  • International normalized ratio (INR) OR prothrombin time (PT), Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT): ≤ 1.5 × ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or aPTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants

    *Lab values for eligibility should be based upon labs prior to Cycle 1 treatment of Pembro-GVD.

  • Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 2 weeks prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. On the day of planned treatment, if a blood pregnancy test has not been performed within the two week window, a stat pregnancy test (urine or blood) should be performed and the results reviewed before treatment is begun.
  • Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception (see details in section 11.4.3).
  • Male subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception.(see details in section 11.4.3).

  • HIV-infected participants must have well-controlled HIV on ART, defined as:

    • Participants on ART must have a CD4+ T-cell count ≥350 cells/mm3 at the time of screening
    • Participants on ART must have achieved and maintained virologic suppression defined as confirmed HIV RNA level below 50 copies/mL or the LLOQ (below the limit of detection) using the locally available assay at the time of screening and for at least 12 weeks before screening
    • It is advised that participants must not have had any AIDS-defining opportunistic infections within the past 12 months.
    • Participants on ART must have been on a stable regimen, without changes in drugs or dose modification, for at least 4 weeks before study entry (Day 1) and agree to continue ART throughout the study
  • Participants who have AEs due to previous anticancer therapies must have recovered to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Participants with endocrine-related AEs who are adequately treated with hormone replacement or participants who have ≤Grade 2 neuropathy are eligible.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known pregnancy or breast-feeding.

    • Breast-feeding should be discontinued prior to treatment initiation.
  • Medical illness unrelated to Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which, in the opinion of the attending physician and/or principal investigator, makes participation in this study inappropriate.
  • Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
  • 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 (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Has known active HIV, Hepatitis B (e.g., Hepatitis B PCR positive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  • Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Administration of killed vaccines is allowed.
  • Has a history of pneumonitis related to PD-1 blockade that required steroids.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications
  • Has undergone solid organ transplant at any time, or prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the last 5 years. (Subjects who have had an allogeneic hematopoietic transplant greater than 5 years ago are eligible as long as there are no symptoms of GVHD.)
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality or other circumstance that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, such that it 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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Safety Window and DLT definition (Part 1)
Initially, 6 patients will be treated on the safety portion of the study and observed for dose limiting toxicities (DLTs). If 1 or fewer patients experience dose[1]limiting toxicity (DLT), enrollment onto the study will proceed according to a phase II, Simon 2- stage design.
Drug: pembrolizumab
Age 10-17: 2mg/kg (cap at 200mg), Age ≥ 18: 200 mg (flat) ,Day 1 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles (pre-ASCT)
Drug: gemcitabine
1000mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: vinorelbine
20mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: liposomal doxorubicin
15mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Procedure: Stem cell mobilization and collection
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per standard MSKCC guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Experimental: Safety monitoring beyond after completion of safety window (PART 1)
During the phase II portion of the study, patients will continue to be monitored for DLTs, adverse events, and events of interest throughout treatment with pembrolizumab-GVD, ASCT (part 1, if applicable), and 100 days following the last dose of pembrolizumab. Total planned enrollment is 39 patients
Drug: pembrolizumab
Age 10-17: 2mg/kg (cap at 200mg), Age ≥ 18: 200 mg (flat) ,Day 1 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles (pre-ASCT)
Drug: gemcitabine
1000mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: vinorelbine
20mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: liposomal doxorubicin
15mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Procedure: Stem cell mobilization and collection
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per standard MSKCC guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Experimental: Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT) (PARTS 1 and 3)
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per institutional guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Drug: pembrolizumab
Age 10-17: 2mg/kg (cap at 200mg), Age ≥ 18: 200 mg (flat) ,Day 1 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles (pre-ASCT)
Drug: gemcitabine
1000mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: vinorelbine
20mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: liposomal doxorubicin
15mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Procedure: Stem cell mobilization and collection
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per standard MSKCC guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Experimental: Pembrolizumab maintenance (PART 2)
In part 2 of the study, patients who achieve complete response after 4 cycles of pembrolizumab[1]GVD will receive single-agent pembrolizumab for 13 cycles, which will begin 3-5 weeks after cycle 4 of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Drug: pembrolizumab
Age 10-17: 2mg/kg (cap at 200mg), Age ≥ 18: 200 mg (flat) ,Day 1 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles (pre-ASCT)
Drug: gemcitabine
1000mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: vinorelbine
20mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: liposomal doxorubicin
15mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Procedure: Stem cell mobilization and collection
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per standard MSKCC guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Experimental: Pembrolizumab maintenance, third-line therapy, and HDT/ASCT (PART 3A)
In part 3 of the study, patients who achieve complete response after 2 cycles of pembrolizumab[1]GVD will be randomized to either consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant (after an additional optional 1-2 cycles of pembro-GVD) or 2 cycles of pembro-GVD followed by single agent pembrolizumab maintenance for 13 cycles.
Drug: pembrolizumab
Age 10-17: 2mg/kg (cap at 200mg), Age ≥ 18: 200 mg (flat) ,Day 1 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles (pre-ASCT)
Drug: gemcitabine
1000mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: vinorelbine
20mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: liposomal doxorubicin
15mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Procedure: Stem cell mobilization and collection
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per standard MSKCC guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Experimental: Involved-site radiation therapy (ISRT) (PART 3B)
Patients with limited sites of disease prior to initiation of pembro-GVD are eligible to receive ISRT prior to ASCT with pembrolizumab maintenance.
Drug: pembrolizumab
Age 10-17: 2mg/kg (cap at 200mg), Age ≥ 18: 200 mg (flat) ,Day 1 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles (pre-ASCT)
Drug: gemcitabine
1000mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: vinorelbine
20mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Drug: liposomal doxorubicin
15mg/m^2 Days 1 and 8 of each 3 week cycle IV infusion 2-4 cycles
Procedure: Stem cell mobilization and collection
Stem cell mobilization and collection will be performed as per standard MSKCC guidelines after 2-4 cycles of pembrolizumab-GVD.
Radiation: Involved-site radiation therapy
Involved-site radiation therapy (ISRT) Patients with limited sites of disease prior to initiation of pembro-GVD are eligible to receive ISRT prior to ASCT or with pembrolizumab maintenance. n. ISRT to nodal based disease should be delivered in line with the guidelines provided by the International Lymphoma Radiation Oncology Group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Complete response rate (part 1)
Time Frame: 2 years
Response to pembrolizumab-GVD will be assessed using the RECIL criteria.
2 years
Assess freedom from disease at 5 years (part 3)
Time Frame: 5 years
A disease event will be defined as disease relapse after transplant or after maintenance if transplant does not occur, death, or loss to follow-up before the 5-year follow-up period ends.
5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluate the 2-year PFS rate (part 2)
Time Frame: 2 years
Only patients who receive the Pembrolizumab maintenance regime will be considered evaluable for 2-year PFS and OS rates.
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Collaborators

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Alison Moskowitz, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 30, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 2, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

August 7, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 18-160

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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