Brentuximab vedotin: treatment role for relapsed refractory systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.

The identification of CD30 has been known since 1985. Trials exploring the targeted therapy focusing on this antigen have led to the successful development and approval of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®) for treatment of relapsed refractory systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. Brentuximab vedotin has a high-level of response with generally durable remission. Common side effects of brentuximab vedotin include peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, nausea, arthralgia, and pyrexia. Grade 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglycemia have also been reported. Development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy from John Cunningham virus is a very rare occurrence, but its seriousness has prompted the US FDA to mandate a black box warning. Brentuximab vedotin is currently being evaluated to be used in conjunction with other chemotherapy regimens, including in frontline therapies to induce potentially higher complete remission rate than chemotherapy alone and thus achieve potentially higher progression-free survival rates that might translate ultimately to improve overall survival.