Medical Policy

Policy Num:       08.001.037
Policy Name:     Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma
Policy ID:          [08.001.037]  [Ac / B / M+ / P+]  [8.01.29]

Last Review:     February 17, 2025
Next Review:     February 20, 2026
 

Related Policies: 08.001.048 Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Summary

Description

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) results from a clonal expansion of a B-cell lineage, characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells on pathology. Standard treatment is based on the stage at presentation and may involve chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been used for HL, particularly in the setting of relapse or refractory disease.

Summary of Evidence

Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have HL who receive autologous HCT as first-line therapy, the evidence includes randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Relevant outcomes are overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. Randomized controlled trials of autologous HCT as first-line treatment have reported that this therapy does not provide additional benefit compared with conventional chemotherapy. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For individuals who have relapsed or refractory HL who receive autologous HCT, the evidence includes RCTs, a meta-analysis, nonrandomized comparative studies, and case series. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. Two RCTs in patients with relapsed or refractory disease have reported a benefit in progression-free survival and a trend toward a benefit in OS. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For individuals who have relapsed HL after an autologous HCT who receive a second autologous HCT, the evidence includes case series. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. No RCTs or nonrandomized comparative studies were identified. In a case series, treatment-related mortality at 100 days was 11%; at a median follow-up of 72 months, the mortality rate was 73%. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have HL who receive allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) as first-line therapy, the evidence includes no published studies. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. No studies specifically addressing allo-HCT as first-line treatment for HL were identified. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For individuals who have relapsed or refractory HL who receive allo-HCT, the evidence includes a number of case series and a meta-analysis. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. A 2016 meta-analysis identified 38 case series evaluating allo-HCT for relapsed or refractory HL. The pooled analysis found a 6-month OS rate of 83% and a 3-year OS of 50%. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For individuals who have relapsed HL after autologous HCT who receive allo-HCT, the evidence includes case series and a meta-analysis. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. A 2016 meta-analysis of 38 case series found that a previous autologous HCT followed by allo-HCT was significantly associated with higher 1- and 2-year OS rates and significantly higher recurrence-free survival rates at 1 year compared with no previous autologous HCT. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For individuals who have relapsed or refractory HL who receive reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) with allo-HCT, the evidence includes case series, cohort studies, and a systematic review. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. A 2015 systematic review cited a number of studies, including some with comparison groups, showing acceptable outcomes after RIC with allo-HCT in patients with relapsed or refractory HL. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Tandem Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have HL who receive tandem autologous HCT, the evidence includes nonrandomized comparative studies and case series. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. One prospective, nonrandomized study reported that, in patients with poor prognostic markers, response to tandem autologous HCT might be higher than for single autologous HCT. This study was not definitive due to potential selection bias; RCTs are needed to determine the impact of tandem autologous HCT on health outcomes in this population. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Additional Information

2020 Input

Clinical input was sought to help determine whether the use of either second autologous HCT for relapsed HL or tandem autologous HCT for HL would provide a clinically meaningful improvement in net health outcome and whether the use is consistent with generally accepted medical practice. In response to requests, clinical input was received from 4 respondents, including 3 complete responses including 2 physician-level responses identified through specialty societies and 1 physician-level response identified through an academic medical center.

For individuals with relapsed HL after an autologous HCT who receive second autologous HCT, clinical input does not support a clinically meaningful improvement in net health outcome and does not indicate this use is consistent with generally accepted medical practice.

For individuals with HL who receive tandem autologous HCT, clinical input does not support a clinically meaningful improvement in net health outcome and does not indicate this use is consistent with generally accepted medical practice.

Further details from clinical input are included in the Appendix.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this evidence review is to determine whether the use of allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation improves the net health outcomes in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

POLICY

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) may be considered medically necessary in patients with primary refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.

Allogeneic HCT, using either myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning regimens, may be considered medically necessary in patients with primary refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.

Second autologous HCT for relapsed lymphoma after a prior autologous HCT is considered investigational.

Tandem autologous HCT is considered investigational in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Other uses of HCT in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma are considered investigational, including, but not limited to, initial therapy for newly diagnosed disease to consolidate a first complete remission.

POLICY GUIDELINES

In the Morschhauser et al (2008) study of risk-adapted salvage treatment with single or tandem autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for first relapse or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, poor-risk relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma was defined as 2 or more of the following risk factors at first relapse: time to relapse less than 12 months, stage III or IV at relapse, and relapse within previously irradiated sites. The primary refractory disease was defined as disease regression less than 50% after 4 to 6 cycles of doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy or disease progression during induction or within 90 days after the end of first-line treatment.

Some patients for whom a conventional myeloablative allotransplant could be curative may be considered candidates for reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. These include those with malignancies that are effectively treated with myeloablative allogeneic transplantation, but whose age (typically >55 or >60 years) or comorbidities (eg, liver or kidney dysfunction, generalized debilitation, prior intensive chemotherapy, low Karnofsky Performance Status score) preclude the use of a standard myeloablative conditioning regimen.

The ideal allogeneic donors are human leukocyte antigen-identical matched siblings. Related donors mismatched at a single locus are also considered suitable donors. A matched, unrelated donor identified through the National Marrow Donor Program is typically the next option considered. Recently, there has been interest in haploidentical donors, typically a parent or a child of the patient, with whom usually there is sharing of only 3 of the 6 major histocompatibility antigens. Most patients will have such a donor; however, the risk of graft-versus-host disease and overall morbidity of the procedure may be severe, and experience with these donors is not as extensive as that with matched donors.

Coding

See the Codes table for details.

BENEFIT APPLICATION

BlueCard/National Account Issues

The following considerations may supersede this policy:

• State mandates requiring coverage for autologous bone marrow transplantation offered as part of clinical trials of autologous bone marrow transplantation approved by the National Institutes of Health.

• Some plans may participate in voluntary programs offering coverage for patients participating in National Institutes of Health-approved clinical trials of cancer chemotherapies, including autologous bone marrow transplantation.

• Some contracts or certificates of coverage (eg, Federal Employee Program) may include specific conditions in which autologous bone marrow transplantation would be considered eligible for coverage.

Benefits are determined by the group contract, member benefit booklet, and/or individual subscriber certificate in effect at the time services were rendered.  Benefit products or negotiated coverages may have all or some of the services discussed in this medical policy excluded from their coverage.

BACKGROUND

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a relatively uncommon B-cell lymphoma. In 2021, the estimated number of new cases in the United States was approximately 8830,with 960 estimated deaths.^1, The disease has a bimodal distribution, with most patients diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 39 years, with a second peak in adults aged 65 years and older.

The 2008 World Health Organization classification divided HL into 2 main types^2,; these classifications did not change in the 2016 update:^3,

1. "Classical" HL

   • Nodular sclerosis

   • Mixed cellularity

   • Lymphocyte depleted

   • Lymphocyte-rich

2. Nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL.

In Western countries, “classical” HL accounts for 95% of cases of HL and, for nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL, only 5%.^4, “Classical” HL is characterized by the presence of neoplastic Reed-Sternberg cells in a background of numerous non-neoplastic inflammatory cells. Nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL lacks Reed-Sternberg cells but is characterized by the presence of lymphocytic and histiocytic cells termed “popcorn cells”.

Staging

The Ann Arbor staging system for HL recognizes that the disease is thought typically to arise in a single lymph node and spread to contiguous lymph nodes with eventual involvement of extranodal sites. The staging system attempts to distinguish patients with localized HL who can be treated with extended field radiation from those who require systemic chemotherapy.

Each stage is subdivided into A and B categories. “A” indicates no systemic symptoms are present and “B” indicates the presence of systemic symptoms, which include unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of body weight, unexplained fevers >38°C, or drenching night sweats (Table 1).^4,

Table 1. Ann Arbor Staging System for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Patients with HL are generally classified into 3 groups: early-stage favorable (stage I-II with no B symptoms, large mediastinal lymphadenopathy, or other unfavorable factors), early-stage unfavorable (stage I-II with a large mediastinal mass, multiple involved nodal regions, B symptoms, extranodal involvement, or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate ≥50), and advanced-stage disease (stage III-IV).^4,

Treatment

Patients with nonbulky stage IA or IIA disease are considered to have the clinically early-stage disease. These patients are candidates for chemotherapy, combined modality therapy, or radiotherapy alone.^5, Patients with obvious stage III or IV disease, bulky disease (defined as a 10-cm mass or mediastinal disease with a transverse diameter >33% of the transthoracic diameter), or the presence of B symptoms will require combination chemotherapy with or without additional radiotherapy.

Hodgkin lymphoma is highly responsive to conventional chemotherapy, and up to 80% of newly diagnosed patients can be cured with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Patients who prove refractory or who relapse after first-line therapy have a significantly worse prognosis. Primary refractory HL is defined as disease regression of less than 50% after 4 to 6 cycles of anthracycline-containing chemotherapy, disease progression during induction therapy, or progression within 90 days after the completion of the first-line treatment.^6,

In patients with relapse, the results of salvage therapy vary depending on a number of prognostic factors, as follows: the length of the initial remission, stage at recurrence, and the severity of anemia at the time of relapse.^7, Early and late relapse are defined as less or more than 12 months from the time of remission, respectively. Approximately 70% of patients with late first relapse can be salvaged by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) but not more than 40% with early first relapse.^8,

Only 25% to 35% of patients with primary progressive or poor-risk recurrent HL achieve durable remission after autologous HCT, with most failures being due to disease progression after transplant. Most relapses after transplant occur within 1 to 2 years, and once relapse occurs posttransplant, median survival is less than 12 months.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is a procedure in which hematopoietic stem cells are intravenously infused to restore bone marrow and immune function in cancer patients who receive bone marrow-toxic doses of cytotoxic drugs with or without whole body radiotherapy. Hematopoietic stem cells may be obtained from the transplant recipient (autologous HCT) or a donor (allogeneic HCT [allo-HCT]). These cells can be harvested from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood shortly after delivery of neonates. Cord blood transplantation is discussed in detail in evidence review 7.01.50.

Immunologic compatibility between infused hematopoietic stem cells and the recipient is not an issue in autologous HCT. In allogeneic stem cell transplantation, immunologic compatibility between donor and patient is a critical factor for achieving a successful outcome. Compatibility is established by typing of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) using cellular, serologic, or molecular techniques. Human leukocyte antigen refers to the gene complex expressed at the HLA-A, -B, and -DR (antigen-D related) loci on each arm of chromosome 6. An acceptable donor will match the patient at all or most of the HLA loci.

Conditioning for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Conventional Conditioning

The conventional (“classical”) practice of allo-HCT involves administration of cytotoxic agents (e.g., cyclophosphamide, busulfan) with or without total body irradiation at doses sufficient to cause bone marrow ablation in the recipient. The beneficial treatment effect of this procedure is due to a combination of the initial eradication of malignant cells and subsequent graft-versus-malignancy effect mediated by non-self-immunologic effector cells. While the slower graft-versus-malignancy effect is considered the potentially curative component, it may be overwhelmed by existing disease in the absence of pretransplant conditioning. Intense conditioning regimens are limited to patients who are sufficiently medically fit to tolerate substantial adverse effects. These include opportunistic infections secondary to loss of endogenous bone marrow function and organ damage or failure caused by the cytotoxic drugs. Subsequent to graft infusion in allo-HCT, immunosuppressant drugs are required to minimize graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

The success of autologous HCT is predicated on the potential of cytotoxic chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy, to eradicate cancerous cells from the blood and bone marrow. This permits subsequent engraftment and repopulation of the bone marrow with presumably normal hematopoietic stem cells obtained from the patient before undergoing bone marrow ablation. Therefore, autologous HCT is typically performed as consolidation therapy when the patient’s disease is in complete remission. Patients who undergo autologous HCT are also susceptible to chemotherapy-related toxicities and opportunistic infections before engraftment, but not GVHD.

Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) refers to the pretransplant use of lower doses of cytotoxic drugs or less intense regimens of radiotherapy than are used in traditional full-dose myeloablative conditioning treatments. Although the definition of RIC is variable, with numerous versions employed, all regimens seek to balance the competing effects of relapse due to residual disease and non-relapse mortality. The goal of RIC is to reduce disease burden and to minimize associated treatment-related morbidity and non-relapse mortality in the period during which the beneficial graft-versus-malignancy effect of allogeneic transplantation develops. Reduced-intensity conditioning regimens range from nearly total myeloablative to minimally myeloablative with lymphoablation, with intensity tailored to specific diseases and patient condition. Patients who undergo RIC with allo-HCT initially demonstrate donor cell engraftment and bone marrow mixed chimerism. Most will subsequently convert to full-donor chimerism. In this review, the term RIC will refer to all conditioning regimens intended to be nonmyeloablative.

Targeted Chemotherapy and Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma

A recent important development in the HL treatment landscape is the emergence of several novel agents that are now being used as alternatives to stem cell transplantation in patients at high-risk for relapse after chemotherapy or relapse following autologous HCT. These agents include brentuximab vedotin, a CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate, and nivolumab and pembrolizumab, which are 2 programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibodies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory status of these agents for the treatment of HL is summarized in Table 2.

Brentuximab vedotin was evaluated in a large, phase 3, multinational, double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) known as the AETHERA trial (abbreviation definition unknown). Moskowitz et al (2015)^9, reported on the outcomes for 329 individuals with HL with risk factors for post-transplantation relapse or progression (eg, primary refractory HL, relapse <12 months after initial therapy, and/or relapse with extranodal disease). Results showed that early consolidation with brentuximab vedotin after autologous HCT significantly improved 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo (63% vs. 51%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40 to 0.81). At 5-year follow-up, the significant PFS benefit for brentuximab vedotin persisted (59% vs. 41%; HR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.72).^10, In addition, a study by Smith et al (2018)^11, of tandem autologous HCT observed that the 2-year PFS of 63% for brentuximab vedotin demonstrated in the AETHERA RCT "matches" the 2-year PFS rates for tandem autologous HCT.

A survival benefit with novel agents has been found in the setting of relapse post-autologous HCT. Bair et al (2017) reported a retrospective comparative analysis that evaluated the outcomes of 87 individuals with relapsed/refractory HL who had relapsed post-autologous HCT.^12, Compared to individuals who did not receive any novel agents, those that received novel agents, including brentuximab vedotin or nivolumab, experienced a significant improvement in median overall survival (85.6 vs. 17.1 months; p<.001). The availability of safe and effective targeted systemic therapy represents an alternative to the use of a second autologous transplant or planned tandem autologous HCT for HL consolidation treatment or relapse/refractory disease treatment.

Regulatory Status

The FDA regulates human cells and tissues intended for implantation, transplantation, or infusion through the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, under Code of Federal Regulation, title 21, parts 1270 and 1271. Hematopoietic stem cells are included in these regulations.

Table 2 describes several novel agents that have been approved by the FDA for use as alternatives to tandem autologous HCT or a second autologous HCT in individuals at high-risk for, or with, respectively, refractory or relapsed HL following autologous HCT.

Table 2. Novel Agents Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

      BLA: Biologic License Application; FDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; HCT: hematopoietic cell transplantation; HL: Hodgkin lymphoma; PD-1: programmed death receptor-1.  a In the pivotal, multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label study, prior lines of therapy included prior autologous HCT (61%) and brentuximab (83%). 

rationale

This evidence review was created in December 1999 and has been updated regularly with searches of the PubMed database. The most recent literature review was performed through December 10, 2024.

Evidence reviews assess the clinical evidence to determine whether the use of technology improves the net health outcome. Broadly defined, health outcomes are the length of life, quality of life, and ability to function, including benefits and harms. Every clinical condition has specific outcomes that are important to patients and managing the course of that condition. Validated outcome measures are necessary to ascertain whether a condition improves or worsens; and whether the magnitude of that change is clinically significant. The net health outcome is a balance of benefits and harms.

To assess whether the evidence is sufficient to draw conclusions about the net health outcome of technology, 2 domains are examined: the relevance, and quality and credibility. To be relevant, studies must represent 1 or more intended clinical use of the technology in the intended population and compare an effective and appropriate alternative at a comparable intensity. For some conditions, the alternative will be supportive care or surveillance. The quality and credibility of the evidence depend on study design and conduct, minimizing bias and confounding that can generate incorrect findings. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is preferred to assess efficacy; however, in some circumstances, nonrandomized studies may be adequate. Randomized controlled trials are rarely large enough or long enough to capture less common adverse events and long-term effects. Other types of studies can be used for these purposes and to assess generalizability to broader clinical populations and settings of clinical practice.

Promotion of greater diversity and inclusion in clinical research of historically marginalized groups (e.g., People of Color [African-American, Asian, Black, Latino and Native American]; LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual); Women; and People with Disabilities [Physical and Invisible]) allows policy populations to be more reflective of and findings more applicable to our diverse members. While we also strive to use inclusive language related to these groups in our policies, use of gender-specific nouns (e.g., women, men, sisters, etc.) will continue when reflective of language used in publications describing study populations.

Population Reference No. 1

Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma

First-Line Therapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) as first-line therapy is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with HL.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is autologous HCT as first-line therapy.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Randomized Controlled Trials

Federico et al (2003) published results from an RCT of 163 patients with unfavorable HL who had received autologous HCT or additional standard chemotherapy for consolidation after initial conventional chemotherapy.^13, Patients were randomized to high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous HCT (n=83) or to 4 additional courses of the same standard chemotherapy used in the induction phase (n=80). After treatment, complete remission (CR) was achieved in 92% of patients in the autologous HCT arm and 89% in the standard chemotherapy arm (p=.6). Five-year survival rates (overall, failure-free, and relapse-free) did not differ between the treatment groups, and the authors concluded that HDC with autologous HCT offered no benefit in outcomes over conventional chemotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with advanced HL.

Carella et al (2009) published 10-year follow-up results for the Federico study.^14,Ten-year OS rates were 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78% to 90%) for the HDC autologous HCT group and 84% (95% CI, 77% to 89%; p=.7) for the standard chemotherapy group. Ten-year failure-free survival rates were 79% (95% CI, 72% to 85%) for the HDC autologous HCT group and 75% (95% CI, 67% to 82%; p=.8) for the standard chemotherapy group. The authors concluded that, after a median follow-up of 107 months, their data suggested patients who respond to induction therapy with conventional chemotherapy do not achieve superior outcomes with consolidation with HDC and autologous HCT.

Section Summary: Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation as First-Line Therapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma

A small number of RCTs have evaluated the use of autologous HCT as first-line treatment for HL, and these trials have reported no benefit above that of conventional chemotherapy.

Summary of Evidence

Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have HL who receive autologous HCT as first-line therapy, the evidence includes RCTs. Relevant outcomes are OS , DSS , change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. Randomized controlled trials of autologous HCT as first-line treatment have reported that this therapy does not provide additional benefit compared with conventional chemotherapy. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 2 

Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of autologous HCT is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with relapsed or refractory HL.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with relapsed or refractory HL.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is autologous HCT.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Systematic Reviews

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available RCTs on HCT for patients with relapsed or refractory HL were published by Rancea et al (2014).^15, Reviewers included 3 RCTs, 2 (1993, 2002) of which compared HDC plus autologous HCT with conventional treatment.^16,17, Both trials (described below) were judged to be at moderate risk of bias using the Cochrane criteria. Combined analysis for the outcome of OS demonstrated a hazard ratio of 0.67 for patients treated with autologous HCT, which was not statistically significant (95% CI, 0.41 to 1.07). For the outcome of progression-free survival (PFS), there was a significant improvement for autologous HCT treatment, with a hazard ratio of 0.55 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.86).

Randomized Controlled Trials

The British National Lymphoma Investigation study (1993) was the first to show that autologous HCT offered patients with relapsed or refractory HL a PFS benefit over conventional chemotherapy.^18, Forty patients with relapsed or refractory HL were given chemotherapy without a transplant (n=20) or autologous HCT after HDC (n=20).^16, A significantly better event-free survival rate at 3 years (53%) was reported for patients who underwent HCT than for those who did not (10%).

Subsequently, these findings were confirmed in a larger 2002 trial by the German Hodgkin Study Group and European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.^17, Patients relapsing after initial chemotherapy were randomized to chemotherapy without a transplant or to autologous HCT. In the final analysis of 144 patients, freedom from treatment failure at 3 years was 55% in the transplanted group versus 34% in the nontransplanted group. This benefit was maintained in a 2007 subgroup analysis, regardless of early or late relapse, and the results were confirmed in follow-up data at 7 years.^19,

Nonrandomized Studies

In addition to the RCTs, several large retrospective studies identified in a systematic review have reported event-free survival rates ranging from 25% to 60%, with OS rates from 35% to 66%, showing that disease status before autologous HCT was the most important prognostic factor for the final outcome.^6,

A retrospective observational cohort study by Merryman et al (2021) evaluated autologous HCT after anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory HL. ^20, Seventy-eight patients were identified who underwent autologous HCT as a third-line (or later) treatment; 74% of patients underwent autologous HCT after anti-PD-1 treatment and 26% of patients received anti-PD-1 treatment along with additional therapy prior to autologous HCT. The 18-month PFS and OS after autologous HCT were 81% (95% CI, 69 to 89) and 96% (95% CI, 87 to 99), respectively. Favorable outcomes were reported for patients who had received greater than 4 systemic therapies before autologous HCT (18-month PFS, 73%), who were refractory to 2 consecutive therapies immediately prior to anti-PD-1 treatment (18-month PFS, 78%), and who had positive pre-HCT positron emission tomography (PET) (18-month PFS, 75%); patients who were non-responders to anti-PD-1 treatment had inferior outcomes (18-month PFS, 51%).

Section Summary: Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

Randomized controlled trials and a meta-analysis have evaluated the use of autologous HCT for relapsed or refractory HL. The studies reported no difference in OS, but a significant improvement in PFS, for patients treated with autologous HCT.

Summary of Evidence

Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have relapsed or refractory HL who receive autologous HCT, the evidence includes RCTs, a meta-analysis, nonrandomized comparative studies, and case series. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. Two RCTs in patients with relapsed or refractory disease have reported a benefit in PFS and a trend toward a benefit in OS. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 3 

Second Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma After Prior Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of a second autologous HCT is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with relapsed HL after an autologous HCT.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with relapsed HL after an autologous HCT.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is a second autologous HCT.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Few treatment options exist for patients who relapse following an autologous HCT. These include single-agent palliative chemotherapy or occasionally, localized radiotherapy.^19, If further remission is attained with conventional-dose chemotherapy, it is rarely durable, with a median OS of less than 1 year.^21,

Case Series

There is limited experience with second autologous HCT, and treatment-related mortality is high (25% to 40%).^16, Smith et al (2008) reported on the outcomes of 40 patients (21 with HL, 19 with non-HL) who underwent a second autologous HCT for relapsed lymphoma.^21, Reported results were combined for the 2 populations, but the authors stated the outcomes for both patient groups were similar. Median age at second HCT was 38 years (range, 16 to 61 years). In 82% of patients, the second HCT was performed more than 1 year after the first. The treatment-related mortality at day 100 posttransplant was 11% (95% CI, 3% to 22%). At a median follow-up of 72 months (range, 12 to 124 months) after the second HCT, 73% of patients had died, 62% due to relapsed lymphoma. One-, 3-, and 5-year PFS estimates were 50% (95% CI, 34% to 66%), 36% (95% CI, 21% to 52%), and 30% (95% CI, 16% to 46%), respectively. Corresponding OS estimates were 65% (95% CI, 50% to 79%), 36% (95% CI, 22% to 52%), and 30% (95% CI, 17% to 46%), respectively. Study limitations included the absence of an appropriate comparison group and lack of data on how many patients were considered for a second HCT but were unable to mobilize sufficient stem cells or were otherwise unable to proceed to the second transplant. Finally, heterogeneity of the preparative regimens used in this population precluded comparison of efficacy.

Section Summary: Second Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma After Prior Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

The evidence is limited to case series; no RCTs or nonrandomized comparative studies were identified. In 1 series, treatment-related mortality at 100 days was 11%, and the mortality rate was 73% at a median follow-up of 72 months.

Summary of Evidence

Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have relapsed HL after an autologous HCT who receive a second autologous HCT, the evidence includes case series. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. No RCTs or nonrandomized comparative studies were identified. In a case series, treatment-related mortality at 100 days was 11%; at a median follow-up of 72 months, the mortality rate was 73%. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 4 

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma

First-Line Therapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of allogeneic (allo)-HCT as first-line therapy is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with HL.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with HL.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is allo-HCT as first-line therapy.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

The application of allo-HCT to the treatment of patients with HL appears limited, due to high procedure-related mortality. No controlled trials evaluating allo-HCT as first-line treatment for HL were identified. In addition, 2015 and 2016 systematic reviews of HCT for HL did not discuss studies using allo-HCT as first-line therapy.^22,23,

Section Summary: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation as First-Line Therapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma

No studies specifically addressing allo-HCT as first-line treatment for HL were identified.

For individuals who have HL who receive allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) as first-line therapy, the evidence includes no published studies. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. No studies specifically addressing allo-HCT as first-line treatment for HL were identified. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 5 

Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of allo-HCT is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with relapsed or refractory HL.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with relapsed or refractory HL.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is allo-HCT.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Systematic Reviews

Rashidi et al (2016) published a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating allo-HCT in HL.^23, Thirty-eight studies were selected. Three studies included more than 1 series and were divided into more than 1 group; a total of 42 series were included in the meta-analysis. Sample sizes of included studies ranged from 5 to 285 patients (N=1850 patients). Twenty-eight studies were retrospective and 14 prospective. None was an RCT. Median follow-up in the studies ranged from 11 to 104 months. Results of the meta-analyses are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Meta-Analytic Outcomes

      Adapted from Rashidi et al (2016).23, CI: confidence interval.

In multivariate analysis, more recent studies (ie, those that started to accrue patients in 2000 or later) had significantly higher 6-month and 1-year survival rates than older studies.

Section Summary: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

A 2016 meta-analysis identified 38 case series evaluating allo-HCT for relapsed or refractory HL. The pooled analysis found a 6-month OS rate of 83% and a 3-year OS rate of 50%.

Summary of Evidence

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have relapsed or refractory HL who receive allo-HCT, the evidence includes a number of case series and a meta-analysis. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. A 2016 meta-analysis identified 38 case series evaluating allo-HCT for relapsed or refractory HL. The pooled analysis found a 6-month OS rate of 83% and a 3-year OS of 50%. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 6 

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma After Prior Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of allo-HCT is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with relapsed HL after an autologous HCT.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with relapsed HL after an autologous HCT.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is allo-HCT.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

The Rashidi et al (2016) meta-analysis (described above) included 38 case series assessing patients who underwent allo-HCT after a prior failed autologous HCT.^23, In a multivariate analysis of factors associated with survival outcomes, reviewers found that a previous autologous HCT was significantly associated with higher 1-year (p=.012) and 2-year (p=.040) OS rates and significantly higher relapse-free survival at 1 year (p=.005) compared with no previous autologous HCT.

Section Summary: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma After Prior Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

A 2016 meta-analysis found that a previous autologous HCT was significantly associated with higher OS rates and significantly higher relapse-free survival rates compared with no previous autologous HCT.

Summary of Evidence

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

For individuals who have relapsed HL after autologous HCT who receive allo-HCT, the evidence includes case series and a meta-analysis. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. A 2016 meta-analysis of 38 case series found that a previous autologous HCT followed by allo-HCT was significantly associated with higher 1- and 2-year OS rates and significantly higher recurrence-free survival rates at 1 year compared with no previous autologous HCT. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 7 

Reduced-Intensity Conditioning with Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) with allo-HCT is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with relapsed or refractory HL.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with relapsed or refractory HL.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is RIC with allo-HCT.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Systematic Reviews

Perales et al (2015) conducted an evidence review as part of the development of clinical guidelines on HCT for HL.^22, Reviewers evaluated a number of studies that showed better outcomes with RIC than with myeloablative conditioning regimens. For example, reviewers cited a 2008 study by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation reporting outcomes in 89 HL patients with relapsed or refractory disease who received an RIC with allo-HCT and were compared with 79 patients who received myeloablative conditioning (ie, conventional group).^24, Sixty-two percent of the RIC group had undergone a previous autologous HCT versus 41% of the myeloablative group. Although the incidence of relapse was nearly double in the RIC group (57% v.s 30%), after a median follow-up for surviving patients of 75 months (range, 12 to 120 months), 24 in the RIC group (26.9%) and 18 in the conventional group (22.8%) were alive. Five-year OS rates were 28% (95% CI, 18% to 38%) for the RIC group and 22% (95% CI, 13% to 31%) for the conventional group. Independent adverse prognostic factors for OS were a previously failed autologous HCT (relative risk, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.35; p=.02), the use of myeloablative conditioning (relative risk=1.62; 95% CI, 1.27 to 3.29; p=.04), and the presence of refractory disease (relative risk=1.51; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.21; p=.003). Perales et al (2015) concluded: “As a result, the preferred conditioning intensity in adult patients with relapsed/refractory HL is RIC, which results in acceptable treatment-related mortality including in patients who have had a prior ASCT [autologous stem cell transplant].”

Nonrandomized Study

Sureda et al (2012) published a phase II study (HDR-ALLO) of allo-SCT after RIC for patients with relapsed or refractory HL.^25, Ninety-two patients were included, of which 90% had received more than 2 lines of therapy, 87% prior radiotherapy, and 86% had failed a previous auto-SCT. Fourteen individuals (15%) progressed under salvage therapy and were excluded from further study treatment. The remaining 78 patients proceeded to allograft (50 were in complete or partial remission and 29 in stable disease). Non-relapse mortality was 8% at 100 days and 15% at 1 year; OS was 71% at 1 year and 43% at 4 years from trial entry. For those who received allo-SCT, PFS was 48% at 1 year and 24% at 4 years. The study was limited by its small sample size and by the non-relapse mortality being adversely influenced by older age, poor performance score, and by the presence of refractory disease.

Section Summary: Reduced-Intensity Conditioning with Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

A 2015 systematic review assessed a number of studies, including some with comparison groups, showing acceptable outcomes after RIC with allo-HCT in patients with relapsed or refractory HL. A phase II study found slightly improved results for patients receiving RIC and allo-SCT.

Summary of Evidence

For individuals who have relapsed or refractory HL who receive RIC with allo-HCT, the evidence includes case series, cohort studies, and a systematic review. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. A 2015 systematic review cited a number of studies, including some with comparison groups, showing acceptable outcomes after RIC with allo-HCT in patients with relapsed or refractory HL. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 8

Tandem Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of tandem autologous HCT is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies in patients with HL.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with HL.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is tandem autologous HCT.

Comparators

Comparators of interest include standard of care.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, treatment-related mortality, and treatment-related morbidity.

Follow-up over years is of interest for relevant outcomes.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Nonrandomized Studies

No RCTs have compared tandem autologous HCT with other standard of care therapies. One prospective, nonrandomized study has compared tandem to single autologous HCT for HL. Morschhauser et al (2008) and Sibon et al (2016) reported on the results of a prospective multicenter trial that evaluated a risk-adapted salvage treatment with single or tandem autologous HCT in 245 patients with relapsed or refractory HL.^27,28, Median follow-up time in the initial publication by Morschhauser et al (2008) was 51 months (range, 20 to 110 months). Sibon et al (2016) reported on the 10-year follow-up. Patients categorized as poor-risk (n=150), had primary refractory disease (n=77), or 2 or more of the following risk factors at first relapse: time to relapse less than 12 months, stage III or IV disease at the time of relapse, or relapse in previously irradiated sites (n=73). In this trial, these poor-risk patients were eligible for tandem autologous transplants. Intermediate-risk (n=95) patients, defined as 1 risk factor at relapse, were eligible for a single transplant. Overall, 70% of the poor-risk patients received tandem transplants, and 97% of the intermediate-risk patients received a single transplant.

Ninety-four poor-risk patients responded to cytoreductive chemotherapy (partial response or CR ), whereas 55 patients had chemotherapy-resistant disease. A total of 137 patients (including the 94 patients with chemotherapy-sensitive disease and 43 of 55 with chemotherapy-resistant disease) received the first autologous HCT. Among 121 patients who were fully restaged, 64 patients had achieved a CR, 37 a partial response, and 4 had stable disease. These 105 patients then underwent a second autologous HCT after a median of 65 days. Among them, 80 patients achieved a CR, including 17 patients who had achieved partial response and 3 patients with stable disease after the first transplant. Among the 55 patients who had cytoreduction failure, 30 responded to the first transplant (9 with CR), and 17 achieved a CR after the second transplant. Outcome analysis based on the intention-to-treat sample revealed the 5-year freedom from the second failure and OS estimates were 73% and 85% for the intermediate-risk group and 46% and 57% for the poor-risk group, all respectively. At the 10-year follow-up reported by Sibon et al (2016),^28, freedom from second failure and OS rates were 64% (95% CI, 54% to 74%) and 70% (95% CI, 61% to 80%) for the intermediate-risk group, and 41% (95% CI, 33% to 49%) and 47% (95% CI, 39% to 55%) for the poor-risk group.

In the poor-risk group, patients who underwent tandem transplant and had a CR to cytoreduction chemotherapy did not have superior outcomes compared with complete responders receiving a single transplant in previous studies by the same group.^29, However, in this 2002 study, poor-risk patients who were partial responders and underwent tandem transplants did better compared with partial responders who received a single transplant in previous studies. In this study, 5-year OS rates for poor-risk patients who completed the tandem transplant were 79% and 73% for complete and partial responders, whereas, in a previous trial of single autologous HCT, 5-year OS rates were 86% and 37% for complete and partial responders, all respectively.^29, The findings suggested that a single autologous HCT would be appropriate for intermediate-risk patients and for poor-risk patients who are complete responders to cytoreductive chemotherapy, but that tandem autologous HCT showed a benefit in patients with chemotherapy-resistant disease and in partial responders to cytoreductive conditioning. The authors concluded that a trial, randomizing patients to single versus tandem autologous HCT was unrealistic, given the low yearly incidence of poor-risk patients. In their estimation, the best possible comparisons would be with data from previous findings with single transplants.

Tandem autologous HCT for HL has also been evaluated in single-arm studies. Fung et al (2007) reported results from a pilot study on HL that evaluated the toxicities and efficacy of tandem autologous HCT in patients with primary refractory or poor-risk recurrent HL.^30, The study involved 28 patients with primary progressive and 18 with recurrent HL who were enrolled in the study between 1998 and 2000. Patients had at least 1 of the following poor prognostic factors: first CR less than 12 months, extranodal disease, or B symptoms (presence of systemic symptoms) at relapse. Forty-one (89%) patients received the second transplant. With a median follow-up of 5.3 years (range, 1.6 to 8.1 years), the 5-year OS and PFS rates were 54% (95% CI, 40% to 69%) and 49% (95% CI, 34% to 63%), respectively. Additionally, Smith et al (2018) reported results from a more recent Phase II trial of 89 patients with primary progressive or recurrent HL conducted by the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Clinical Trials Network.^11, This single-arm trial was conducted at 10 centers and enrolled patients between 2006 and 2009. Key patient characteristics included that 53% had induction failure, 18% had an initial response ≤12 months, 83% were stage III or IV at the time of trial enrollment, and 48% previously irradiated patients relapsed in an irradiated site. Eighty-two patients (92%) received the second transplant. With a median follow-up of 6.2 years, the 5-year PFS and OS rates were 55% (95% CI, 44% to 64%) and 84% (95% CI, 74% to 90%).

Section Summary: Tandem Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma

There are no RCTs comparing tandem autologous HCT with alternatives for treating HL. One prospective, nonrandomized study reported that patients who had not achieved a CR after conventional chemotherapy had better outcomes with tandem HCT than with single HCT. However, the results of this trial were not definitive, and RCTs are needed to determine the efficacy of tandem transplants.

Tandem Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Summary of Evidence

For individuals who have HL who receive tandem autologous HCT, the evidence includes nonrandomized comparative studies and case series. Relevant outcomes are OS, DSS, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related mortality and morbidity. One prospective, nonrandomized study reported that, in patients with poor prognostic markers, response to tandem autologous HCT might be higher than for single autologous HCT. This study was not definitive due to potential selection bias; RCTs are needed to determine the impact of tandem autologous HCT on health outcomes in this population. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Supplemental Information

The purpose of the following information is to provide reference material. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or alignment with the evidence review conclusions.

Clinical Input From Physician Specialty Societies and Academic Medical Centers

While the various physician specialty societies and academic medical centers may collaborate with and make recommendations during this process, through the provision of appropriate reviewers, input received does not represent an endorsement or position statement by the physician specialty societies or academic medical centers, unless otherwise noted.

2020 Input

Clinical input was sought to help determine whether the use of either second autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or tandem autologous HCT for HL would provide a clinically meaningful improvement in net health outcome and whether the use is consistent with generally accepted medical practice. In response to requests, clinical input was received from 4 respondents, including 3 complete responses with 2 physician-level responses identified through specialty societies and 1 physician-level response identified through an academic medical center.

For individuals with relapsed HL after an autologous HCT who receive a second autologous HCT, clinical input does not support a clinically meaningful improvement in net health outcome and does not indicate this use is consistent with generally accepted medical practice.

For individuals with HL who receive tandem autologous HCT, clinical input does not support a clinically meaningful improvement in net health outcome and does not indicate this use is consistent with generally accepted medical practice.

Further details from clinical input are included in the Appendix.

Practice Guidelines and Position Statements

Guidelines or position statements will be considered for inclusion in ‘Supplemental Information' if they were issued by, or jointly by, a US professional society, an international society with US representation, or National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Priority will be given to guidelines that are informed by a systematic review, include strength of evidence ratings, and include a description of management of conflict of interest.

American College of Radiology

In 2016, the American College of Radiology issued an Appropriateness Criteria on recurrent HL.^31, The criteria stated that while salvage therapy followed by autologous HCT is standard of care for relapsed HL, alternative therapies may be considered in select patients. For example, there is evidence that in patients with small isolated relapses occurring more than 3 years after initial presentation, a course of radiotherapy or combined modality therapy without autologous HCT may be considered. Also, radiotherapy may be considered as part of combined modality therapy for patients with local relapse after treatment with chemotherapy alone or for relapses outside of the original site of disease.

American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

In 2015, guidelines were published by the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (now referred to as the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy) on indications for autologous and allogeneic HCT.^32, These guidelines were updated in 2020.^33, Recommendations described the current consensus on the use of HCT in and out of the clinical trial setting. The 2015 and 2020 Society recommendations on HL are provided in Table 4.

Table 4. Recommendations for Use of HCT to Treat Hodgkin Lymphoma

      HCT: hematopoietic cell transplantation; PET: positron emission tomography. aSubsection on positron emission tomography positive complete remission was removed because updated response criteria for these lymphoma essentially require normalization of [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography to be assessed as a first complete remission.

In 2015, the Society also published guidelines on the role of cytotoxic therapy with HCT in patients with HL.^22, Select recommendations are shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Recommendations on Use of Cytotoxic Therapy with HCT to Treat Hodgkin Lymphoma

      allo: allogeneic; ASCT: autologous stem cell transplantation; CR: complete response; GOR: grade of recommendation; HCT: hematopoietic cell transplantation; LOE: level of evidence; RIC: reduced-intensity conditioning. 

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines

Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for HL (v.1.2024)^4, include a recommendation for autologous or allogeneic HCT in patients with biopsy-proven refractory disease who have undergone second-line systemic therapy and are Deauville stage 5 according to restaging based on findings from positron emission tomography or computed tomography. Additionally, in patients with biopsy-proven refractory disease who have undergone second-line systemic therapy and are Deauville stage 1 to 3 according to restaging based on findings from positron emission tomography or computed tomography, high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell rescue plus either observation or brentuximab vendotin for 1 year is recommended for patients with high-risk of relapse.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

Not applicable.

Medicare National Coverage

Autologous HCT is considered reasonable and necessary and is covered under Medicare (NCD 110.23 [formerly 110.8.1]) for patients with “[a]dvanced Hodgkin’s disease who have failed conventional therapy and have no HLA [human leukocyte antigen]-matched donor.”^33,

Ongoing and Unpublished Clinical Trials

Some currently ongoing and unpublished trials that might influence this review are listed in Table 6.

Table 6. Summary of Key Trials

      NCT: national clinical trial. a Denotes an industry sponsored or cosponsored study  

References

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4. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Hodgkin lymphoma. Version 4.2024. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/hodgkins.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2024.
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25. Sureda A, Robinson S, Canals C, et al. Reduced-intensity conditioning compared with conventional allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma: an analysis from the Lymphoma Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. J Clin Oncol. Jan 20 2008; 26(3): 455-62. PMID 18086796
26. Sureda A, Canals C, Arranz R, et al. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation after reduced intensity conditioning in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. Results of the HDR-ALLO study - a prospective clinical trial by the Grupo Español de Linfomas/Trasplante de Médula Osea (GEL/TAMO) and the Lymphoma Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Haematologica. Feb 2012; 97(2): 310-7. PMID 21993674
27. Morschhauser F, Brice P, Fermé C, et al. Risk-adapted salvage treatment with single or tandem autologous stem-cell transplantation for first relapse/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of the prospective multicenter H96 trial by the GELA/SFGM study group. J Clin Oncol. Dec 20 2008; 26(36): 5980-7. PMID 19018090
28. Sibon D, Morschhauser F, Resche-Rigon M, et al. Single or tandem autologous stem-cell transplantation for first-relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: 10-year follow-up of the prospective H96 trial by the LYSA/SFGM-TC study group. Haematologica. Apr 2016; 101(4): 474-81. PMID 26721893
29. Fermé C, Mounier N, Diviné M, et al. Intensive salvage therapy with high-dose chemotherapy for patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease in relapse or failure after initial chemotherapy: results of the Groupe d'Etudes des Lymphomes de l'Adulte H89 Trial. J Clin Oncol. Jan 15 2002; 20(2): 467-75. PMID 11786576
30. Fung HC, Stiff P, Schriber J, et al. Tandem autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with primary refractory or poor risk recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. May 2007; 13(5): 594-600. PMID 17448919
31. Winkfield KM, Advani RH, Ballas LK, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Recurrent Hodgkin Lymphoma. Oncology (Williston Park). Dec 15 2016; 30(12): 1099-103, 1106-8. PMID 27987203
32. Majhail NS, Farnia SH, Carpenter PA, et al. Indications for Autologous and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Guidelines from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. Nov 2015; 21(11): 1863-1869. PMID 26256941
33. Kanate AS, Majhail NS, Savani BN, et al. Indications for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Immune Effector Cell Therapy: Guidelines from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. Jul 2020; 26(7): 1247-1256. PMID 32165328
34. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 110.23 - Stem Cell Transplantation (Formerly 110.8.1). 2024; https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?ncdid=366. Accessed December 10, 2024.

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