TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Treatment of Primary Refractory or Recurrent Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children and Adolescents
Source: Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 8, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
For information about the treatments listed below, visit the Treatment Option Overview section.
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In children and adolescents, treatment of primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer that does not respond to initial treatment) or recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer that came back after treatment) may include:
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Chemotherapy with or without steroids, targeted therapy (rituximab, brentuximab, or bortezomib), or both of these therapies.
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Immunotherapy (pembrolizumab or nivolumab).
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High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant using the patient's own stem cells. Monoclonal antibody therapy (brentuximab) may also be given.
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Radiation therapy may be given after stem cell transplant using the patient's own stem cells or if the cancer has not responded to other treatments and the area with cancer has not been treated before.
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High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant using a donor's stem cells.
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Targeted therapy (brentuximab) as maintenance and consolidation therapy for patients who have relapsed after a stem cell transplant that used the patient's own stem cells.
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Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice