Common brand names

• Adcetris

How it is administered

Brentuximab vedotin is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning it is delivered directly into a vein. It is supplied as a powder that is reconstituted and diluted before administration. The infusion typically lasts about 30 minutes and is given in cycles, with the frequency and number of doses depending on the specific blood cancer being treated and whether it is used alone or in combination with other chemotherapy agents.

For example, in adults with previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma, it is given every 2 weeks in combination with chemotherapy. For other indications, such as relapsed lymphoma, it may be given every 3 weeks. The exact dosing schedule will be determined by your healthcare team based on your diagnosis and treatment plan.

How it works

Brentuximab vedotin is a targeted therapy known as an antibody-drug conjugate. It combines an antibody that specifically recognizes a protein called CD30, which is found on the surface of certain lymphoma cells, with a chemotherapy drug (MMAE) that disrupts cell division.

When brentuximab vedotin binds to CD30 on cancer cells, it is taken into the cell, where the chemotherapy component is released. This disrupts the microtubule network inside the cell, leading to cell cycle arrest and ultimately causing the cancer cell to die. Because CD30 is mostly found on lymphoma cells and not on most healthy cells, this approach helps target the cancer more precisely and may reduce some side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

Additionally, brentuximab vedotin may also help the immune system recognize and remove cancer cells through a process called antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis.

Who should take it

Brentuximab vedotin is used to treat several types of blood cancers, especially those that express the CD30 protein. It is indicated for:

• Adult patients with previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma, in combination with chemotherapy.
• Pediatric patients (2 years and older) with previously untreated high-risk classical Hodgkin lymphoma, in combination with chemotherapy.
• Adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma at high risk of relapse or progression after autologous stem cell transplant (as consolidation therapy).
• Adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma after failure of stem cell transplant or after failure of at least two prior chemotherapy regimens.
• Adult patients with previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas, in combination with chemotherapy.
• Adult patients with relapsed sALCL, primary cutaneous ALCL, or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides who have received prior systemic therapy.
• Adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), in combination with lenalidomide and rituximab, after two or more lines of systemic therapy who are not eligible for stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy.

Your healthcare provider will determine if brentuximab vedotin is appropriate for you based on your specific diagnosis and treatment history.

Who should not take it

Brentuximab vedotin should not be used in combination with bleomycin due to the risk of serious lung toxicity. If you are currently receiving bleomycin, your doctor will not prescribe brentuximab vedotin at the same time.

It should also be avoided in patients with severe renal impairment or moderate to severe liver impairment, as these conditions can increase the risk of serious side effects. If you have a history of severe allergic reactions to brentuximab vedotin or any of its components, you should not receive this medication.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not take brentuximab vedotin, as it can cause harm to an unborn baby. Effective contraception is recommended during treatment and for a period after the last dose. Breastfeeding is also not recommended while receiving this medication.

Commonly used with

Brentuximab vedotin is often used in combination with other chemotherapy agents for blood cancers. Common combinations include:

• Doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (for classical Hodgkin lymphoma)
• Doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (for pediatric high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma)
• Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (for peripheral T-cell lymphomas)
• Lenalidomide and rituximab (for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma)

Your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific cancer type and previous treatments.

Commonly tested with

Brentuximab vedotin has been tested in clinical trials with various chemotherapy regimens, including:

• Doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD)
• Doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (AVEPC)
• Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (CHP)
• Lenalidomide and rituximab (for large B-cell lymphoma)

These combinations have been studied in both adults and children with different types of lymphoma to determine the best approaches for treating blood cancers that express CD30.