A Phase 2 interventional study of Nivolumab and Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Hodgkin Lymphoma, sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 21 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-31.
Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if nivolumab plus AVD (doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) can help to control newly diagnosed early-stage non-bulky cHL in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients.
The safety of this drug combination will also be studied.
Primary Objectives:
Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes, doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes, vinblastine IV over 15 minutes, and dacarbazine IV over 60 minutes on days 1 and 15 of each cycle.
I. To characterize the clinical preliminary efficacy of nivolumab plus AVD in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with newly diagnosed early-stage non-bulky classical Hodgkin lymphoma based upon the overall response rate (ORR).
II. To assess the safety of nivolumab plus AVD in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with newly diagnosed early-stage non-bulky classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
III. To summarize the incidence, prevalence, and severity of adverse drug reactions according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) National Cancer Institute (NCI) CTCAE version 5.0.
Secondary Objective:
I. To assess the efficacy and duration of response (DOR), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) of patients with newly diagnosed early-stage non-bulky classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated with this combination.
Outline:
Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes, doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes, vinblastine IV over 15 minutes, and dacarbazine IV over 60 minutes on days 1 and 15 of each cycle.
Cycles repeat every 28 days for 2 cycles. After cycle 2, patients with complete response and Deauville score of 1, 2, or 3 receive 2 additional cycles of treatment (cycles 3 and 4). Patients with partial response or stable disease (Deauville score of 4 or 5) receive 4 additional cycles of treatment (cycles 3-6). Patient with progressive disease, no response, or unacceptable toxicity will come off study.
885 studies on the registry are indexed under Hodgkin Disease; 132 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 15 is below the median of 44 across 726 interventional studies indexed under Hodgkin Disease.
Browse Hodgkin Disease studies →M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 2,999 studies on the registry; 579 are open to participants now.
Of its 599 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 402 (67%) have results posted.
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Unless surgically or biologically sterile: Women of childbearing potential must agree to adequate methods of contraception during the study and at least 3 months for males, and 6 months for females, after the last treatment
The effects of this combination of chemotherapy on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, these agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. (Refer to Pregnancy Assessment Policy MD Anderson Institutional Policy # CLN1114). This includes all female patients, between the onset of menses (as early as 8 years of age) and 55 years unless the patient presents with an applicable exclusionary factor which may be one of the following:
Approved methods of birth control are as follows: Hormonal contraception (i.e. birth control pills, injection, implant, transdermal patch, vaginal ring), Intrauterine device (IUD), Tubal Ligation or hysterectomy, Subject/Partner post vasectomy, Implantable or injectable contraceptives, and condoms plus spermicide. Not engaging in sexual activity for the total duration of the trial and the drug washout period is an acceptable practice; however periodic abstinence, the rhythm method, and the withdrawal method are not acceptable methods of birth control. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
Exclusion Criteria:
11) Patients who have received prior systemic therapy for the lymphoma with the exclusion of steroids for inflammatory conditions (e.g. asthma) or greater than 72 hours of emergent steroids (e.g. symptomatic mediastinal mass)
Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days prior to the first dose of nivolumab. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
12) The use of strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP1A2 (dacarbazine interaction) or CYP3A4 (doxorubicin, vinblastine interactions) should be avoided. Multiple CYP3A4 interacting agents of moderate or strong effect in the HIV+ patients should not be used. This includes most HIV protease inhibitors. 13) Known active HIV and hepatitis B and hepatitis C (unless see below points (a)(b)). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial. Patients with prior hepatitis B and hepatitis C with are undetectable viral load are eligible for this trial.
14) For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
a. Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
7) Patients with psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements 8) Patients with a concurrent active malignancy under treatment 9) Pregnant women are excluded from this study because these agents have the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with these agents, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated on protocol
Treatment will be administered on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Participants will be admitted for day 1 of chemotherapy for cycle 1 and evaluated for 1 or more days following chemotherapy as needed for tumor lysis or supportive care needs as directed by standard of care.
Drug: Nivolumab · Drug: Doxorubicin Hydrochloride · Drug: Vinblastine · Drug: Dacarbazine
Given by IV
Also known as: Opdivo
Given by IV
Also known as: Adriamycin
Given by IV
Also known as: Velban
Given by IV
Also known as: DTIC
Safety and Adverse Events (AEs)
Incidence of Adverse Events, Graded According to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) Version (v) 5.0
Time frame: Through study completion; an average of 1 year
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M.D. Anderson Cancer Center