Prognosis

Therapeutic improvements in advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the malignant diseases in adults with the highest cure rates. Nowadays, complete recovery can be achieved in over 80% of patients. Patients with early stage Hodgkin lymphoma can actually be cured in over 90% of cases. Good long-term treatment results and complete recoveries can even be achieved in patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. However, in any case this is only possible if the patient receives an optimal and consistent therapy by an experienced hospital or treatment center.

Optimal therapy should also take late effects of treatment and the patient’s quality of life into account. In Germany, the German Hodgkin Study Group has consistently pioneered further improvement of Hodgkin lymphoma therapy for over 30 years now, and with its efforts it has contributed to improving the chances for recovery in a decisive way. This improvement is the direct result of the many different trials that have been conducted by the GHSG and in which a total of over 15,000 patients have participated.

However, it is not yet sufficiently understood why a small number of Hodgkin lymphoma patients cannot be cured. Clinical science is investigating the reasons for this in order to be able to help these patients too by means of adequate treatment. Alternative treatment options for these patients are currently being investigated. In this context, particularly the effectiveness of certain antibody drug conjugates such as anti-CD30, which is able to target tumor cells (immunotherapy), is being tested. Immunotherapies might become a useful complement to current standard therapies in the future.