Standard (non-antimetabolite) combination chemotherapy administered past the first trimester, as early as 13 weeks gestation, was associated with few complications and expected maternal survival with lymphoma occurring during pregnancy.

Our study confirms previous reports of a prognostic role of tumor-infiltrating macrophages in CHL, but only for CD163. Although most of the literature supports an increasing role of macrophage IHC as a predictor of clinical outcome, successful clinical translation will require a standardized method and reporting system.

Treatment of refractory or relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) remains challenging, but targeted immunotherapy has recently emerged as a potential treatment option for these patients. Although first-generation monoclonal anti-CD30 antibodies proved disappointing, current efforts to modify anti-CD30 antibodies to improve binding of effector cells and enhance activity appears more promising, as does the development of novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). ADCs offer the potential to deliver potent therapies with minimal toxicity. One highly active ADC, brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), combines an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody and the antitubulin agent monomethyl auristatin E. Initial phase 1 studies of brentuximab vedotin showed a 52% overall response rate in relapsed HL, with minimal toxicity. This article highlights the development of anti-CD30 antibodies and ADCs for relapsed or refractory classical HL.

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Systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare, mature T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma cells express the surface antigen CD30, and more than half express the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein. These 2 proteins provide unique therapeutic targets in ALCL. Remission rates in ALCL with combination chemotherapy are approximately 80%, but relapse after first-line therapy is common. Brentuximab vedotin is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved, antibody-drug conjugate that combines an anti-CD30 antibody with monomethylauristatin E, a potent antimicrotubule agent. Response rates to brentuximab vedotin in patients with relapsed/refractory ALK and ALK ALCL have exceeded 80% with frequent complete responses and a median duration of response greater than 1 year. Brentuximab vedotin in combination with chemotherapy is being explored as a first-line therapy in ALCL. Crizotinib is an inhibitor of ALK tyrosine kinase that has been approved for the treatment of ALK non-small cell lung cancer. Successful treatment of ALK ALCL with crizotinib has been reported in pediatric patients and small case series leading to ongoing trials in relapsed/refractory ALCL. Brentuximab vedotin and crizotinib represent major advances in the treatment of ALK and ALK ALCL and will likely result in marked improvement in prognosis for this subset of aggressive lymphomas.