BrECADD in three days: Implementation of a condensed intensive first‐line regimen in Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Intensive multiagent treatment regimens have substantially improved outcomes in advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Brentuximab vedotin (BV), etoposide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dacarbazine and dexamethasone (BrECADD) demonstrated the highest efficacy in cHL reported to date in a randomised phase III trial. Cytotoxic agents are conventionally administered during the first 4 days of a 21-day cycle. A total of four cycles are applied to patients with a complete response after two cycles, otherwise six cycles. We developed a condensed BrECADD protocol, reducing intravenous administration days to only three (-25%). Between January 2024 and July 2026, 30 patients received 132 cycles of 3-day BrECADD at our institution. Primary objective was to describe feasibility and safety; secondary objectives included response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in 23 patients (77%), predominantly haematological. Six patients (20%) had grade ≥3 infections (four viral, two bacterial) and six (20%) had pathogen-unspecified febrile neutropenia. Twenty-four patients (80%) required only four BrECADD cycles. There were no treatment discontinuations. After a median follow-up of 18 months (range 4-29), 1-year PFS and OS rates were both 100%. Based on these encouraging results, the condensed 3-day protocol is considered feasible and we recommend it for future BrECADD use.