Hodgkin lymphoma
An uncommon cancer of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that help fight infection. The most common sign is a painless lump in the neck, armpit or groin. It mainly affects young people and people aged 75 and over. It can usually be cured if it is found and treated early, mostly with chemotherapy, sometimes with radiotherapy.
Read more about Hodgkin lymphomaTrial-stage treatments and research studies you can join
Filters
- Testing Nivolumab with ASTX727 for Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma
Tests nivolumab with ASTX727 in adults with lymphoma that returned or did not respond.
Birmingham, United StatesAlso Chicago, Duarte, Mineola, New Haven, New Lenox, New York, Orland Park, SacramentoAge 18+ - Tests Xembify to prevent infections in adults with blood cancers and low antibodies
Tests Xembify against placebo in adults with low antibodies and blood cancers.
Bethesda, United StatesAlso Bullhead City, Canton, Greenville, Huntington Park, Morrisville, Rockville, St. Petersburg, WilsonAge 18+ - Engineered T cells for CD30-positive lymphoma that has returned or not responded
Tests the safety of modified T cells in people with relapsed CD30-positive lymphoma.
Houston, United StatesAge 16 to 75 - Tests pembrolizumab with chemotherapy for returning Hodgkin lymphoma
Tests pembrolizumab with GVD chemotherapy in adults with returning Hodgkin lymphoma.
Basking Ridge, United StatesAlso Commack, Duarte, Harrison, Miami, Middletown, Montvale, New York, Stanford, …Age 18+ - Tests glofitamab, alone or with chemotherapy, in relapsed aggressive B-cell lymphoma
Tests glofitamab, alone or with chemotherapy, in adults with returning aggressive B-cell lymphoma.
Albany, United StatesAlso Anchorage, Aurora, Baton Rouge, Boise, Boston, Chattanooga, Clovis, East Syracuse, …Age 18+ - MK-1045 for Follicular Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Tests the immunotherapy MK-1045 in adults with two types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Cleveland, United StatesAlso Denver, Los Angeles, NashvilleAge 18+ - Stem Cell Transplant Study for Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
Tests an own-stem-cell transplant in people with Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including those with HIV.
Minneapolis, United StatesUp to age 75 - Tests CTX-8371 in adults with advanced cancers
Tests the new drug CTX-8371 in adults with advanced cancers, to check safety.
Athens, United StatesAlso Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Fort Wayne, Margate, Nashville, Orlando, Palo Alto, …Age 18+ - Tests LY4584180 in adults with previously treated blood cancers
Tests LY4584180 in adults with lymphoma that returned after earlier treatment.
Atlanta, United StatesAlso Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Duarte, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, …Age 18+ - Tests natural killer cell therapy after cord blood transplant in blood cancers
Tests natural killer cells after chemotherapy and cord blood transplant in people with leukemia.
Houston, United StatesAge 15 to 80 - Tests ruxolitinib with nivolumab in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma
Tests ruxolitinib with nivolumab in adults whose Hodgkin lymphoma returned or did not respond.
Chicago, United StatesAlso Columbus, Indianapolis, Iowa City, Madison, MinneapolisAge 18+ - Testing ARC-02 in Adults With B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Tests ARC-02, with or without rituximab, in adults with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Charlotte, United StatesAlso Los Angeles, Louisville, Milwaukee, Richmond, SpokaneAge 18+ - Donor stem cell transplant with zoledronate for children with blood cancers
Tests donor stem cells plus zoledronate in children with cancer.
Madison, United StatesAge 0 to 21 - Tests stem cell transplant with cell removal in young people with blood disorders
Tests removing certain immune cells from donor stem cells in young people.
Valhalla, United StatesAge 0 to 30 - CMV vaccine for stem cell donors to protect transplant patients with blood cancers
Tests a CMV vaccine in stem cell donors for transplant patients.
Atlanta, United StatesAlso Boston, DuarteAge 18 to 75 - Tests a CMV vaccine in stem cell transplant donors and recipients
Tests a CMV vaccine in people receiving a haploidentical stem cell transplant for blood cancers.
Atlanta, United StatesAlso Boston, DuarteAge 18 to 75 - Tests pembrolizumab with chemotherapy and blood-based tumor DNA monitoring in relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma
Tests pembrolizumab with chemotherapy in adults with returned or resistant Hodgkin lymphoma.
Davis, United StatesAlso Fresno, Irvine, La Jolla, Los Angeles, San FranciscoAge 18+ - Tests surovatamig in adults with returned B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Tests surovatamig alone in adults whose B-cell lymphoma has returned or not responded.
Austin, United StatesAlso Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Duarte, Houston, Iowa City, Jacksonville, Milwaukee, …Age 18+ - Tests AZD3470 alone or with pembrolizumab in lymphoma
Tests the drug AZD3470, alone or with another drug, in people with lymphoma.
Atlanta, United StatesAlso Boston, Duarte, Houston, Miami, New York, PhiladelphiaAge 12+ - Tests CD19 CAR T cell therapy in children with relapsed blood cancers
Tests AUTO1 cell therapy in children with relapsed or refractory B-cell leukemia or lymphoma.
Aurora, United StatesAlso Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, SeattleAge 0 to 18
Where treatment stands
Hodgkin lymphoma can usually be cured. Up to 90% of newly diagnosed people can be cured with chemotherapy (cancer medicines) and/or radiation therapy.
Approved: 19
Officially approved for this disease in the EU, the US, Switzerland or France.
Human testing stage: 2
Being tested in people. Many treatments at this stage are never approved.
Lab research stage: 2
Worked on cells in the lab in a study published in the last 12 months. Most early ideas never reach people.
Placebo: a dummy treatment without the medicine, used for comparison.
Phase 1, 2, 3: the steps of testing in people. Phase 1 checks safety, phase 3 is the last step before approval.
The EU medicines agency (EMA) and its list of medicines in the EU, US prescribing labels (DailyMed, openFDA), the Swiss medicines register (Swissmedic), the French medicines database (ANSM) and the Health Canada drug database, checked on 11 November 2026. Every medicine links to its own official text.
A computer made this list from the official texts: it kept only medicines whose own approval text names the disease, wrote "Who it is for" from that text and checked it against the text a second time. People have not reviewed it yet.
The trials: ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU trials register, as copied into our trial database, checked on 12 November 2026. Every treatment in trials links to its own trial records; the texts are written by AI from them and checked against them by a second AI. People have not reviewed them yet. Placebo, standard medicines used for comparison and procedures are left out.
Phase 3 trials are listed from every country; only some phase 2 trials are listed, so 47 other open phase 2 trials are not listed.
Animal and lab research: studies listed in PubMed and published in the 12 months before 12 November 2026, found by a search for Hodgkin lymphoma. AI chose the treatments from the study summaries and wrote the texts; a second AI checked each one against its study summary. People have not reviewed them yet. Treatments already in the approved or human testing lists are left out. A result in animals or cells does not show that a treatment works in people.
Not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before you change any treatment.
The approval records under a medicine come from Drugs@FDA and the FDA labels (openFDA) and from the EU medicines agency’s medicine data, with its orphan designations, checked on 13 Nov 2026. A date is the medicine’s first approval, for any use; the quoted text is its approved use as written today.
Support organisations
Patient organisations and helplines in United States, for you and your family.
Hodgkin lymphoma organisations in United States
- National Cancer Institute – Cancer Information Service (CIS)
NCI's contact center: information specialists answer cancer questions from patients, families and the public by phone, chat and email.
- American Cancer Society
Nationwide US nonprofit helping people who face cancer: research, patient services, early detection, treatment information and education, with a cancer helpline on its site.
- Cactus Cancer Society
Young adult cancer resource and community: support programs for people diagnosed with cancer as young adults.
- Cancer Hope Network
Nonprofit providing free one-on-one support to cancer patients and families by matching them with trained volunteers who have had a similar experience.
- Cancer Nation
Survivor-led US cancer advocacy organization (formerly the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship) working on quality cancer care and survivorship resources.
- Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
NIH information center (GARD) providing reliable information on genetic and rare diseases to patients and families via website and contact center.
- Hodgkin's International
Nonprofit for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors offering connection, education on late effects, survivorship care plans, mental health resources and advocacy.
- Imerman Angels
Nonprofit offering free one-on-one cancer support and personalized mentoring that connects cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers with someone who has been there.
- Triage Cancer
National nonprofit providing free education on legal and practical issues (insurance, employment, finances) for people with cancer and caregivers.
General support in United States
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
US national 24/7 free and confidential lifeline for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, reachable by calling or texting 988 or by chat.
- MedlinePlus
Free, easy-to-read health information service of the US National Library of Medicine (NIH) on diseases, conditions, drugs and wellness.
International organisations
Offer tissue or data
There are three ways to help research move faster.
Treatments approved outside the EU
Medicines for Hodgkin lymphoma approved in the US or Japan that are not approved in the EU.
Checked on 11 Nov 2026 in the official lists of the US (FDA), Japan (PMDA, approvals since April 2004) and the EU (EMA). 6 uncertain matches are left out.
Your health insurer may pay part of the cost, sometimes all of it. This depends on your insurer, your plan and the country, so always ask your insurer before you go. For planned care in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, ask about form S2.
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“Cures” others already fact-checked
- CBD (cannabidiol) & Hodgkin lymphoma
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About Hodgkin lymphoma
Sources: NHS, NCI PDQ, Cancer Research UK
An uncommon cancer of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that help fight infection. The most common sign is a painless lump in the neck, armpit or groin. It mainly affects young people and people aged 75 and over. It can usually be cured if it is found and treated early, mostly with chemotherapy, sometimes with radiotherapy.
What is it?
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, white blood cells that help fight infection and travel round the body in lymph vessels and glands (lymph nodes). There are two types. Most people have classical Hodgkin lymphoma. A rarer type, nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, tends to grow more slowly.
It is not common. It mainly affects young adults (20 to 39) and older people, and men get it slightly more often than women. Having had the Epstein-Barr virus as a child or teenager raises the risk. Having a parent, brother or sister with Hodgkin lymphoma also raises the risk, but not everyone with a risk factor gets it.
The first signs
The most common sign is a lump that does not hurt.
- a painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin;
- glands that hurt after drinking alcohol;
- a high temperature or heavy night sweats;
- itchy skin, especially after a bath or alcohol;
- losing weight without trying, feeling very tired or short of breath.
These signs are common and can be caused by many different conditions.
How doctors find out
Your family doctor asks about your symptoms, feels for lumps in your neck, armpits and groin, and may do a blood test. A hospital specialist then takes a sample of cells from a swollen gland with a thin needle (biopsy), under local or general anaesthetic. Results should come within 2 weeks. If it is Hodgkin lymphoma, CT and PET scans, blood tests and sometimes a bone marrow sample show how far it has spread (the stage).
Current treatment
Chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy, is used as a first treatment; brentuximab or nivolumab may be added for some people.
Will it get worse?
For most people, treatment gets rid of the lymphoma completely. It can come back, and then treatment may still be able to clear it. Advanced Hodgkin lymphoma is sometimes harder to treat and may not be possible to cure; then treatment aims to slow down its growth and spread, help with symptoms and help you live longer. How it goes depends on the stage, symptoms, blood test results, the type, your age and your general health.
Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for
The main treatments include chemotherapy, which can use more than one medicine and is sometimes given alongside steroid medicine. Radiotherapy may be given alongside or afterwards. For some people, a targeted medicine called brentuximab or an immune medicine called nivolumab is added. If the lymphoma comes back, immune medicines such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab can help the immune system fight it. The slow-growing type may be treated with rituximab, or just watched at first.
Good to know:
- Your specialist team explains the benefits and side effects of each treatment and helps you manage them;
- Years later, treatment can sometimes cause other problems, such as a second cancer, heart or lung problems, an underactive thyroid or long-lasting tiredness. Regular follow-up with doctors who know about these late effects is important.
Rest and gentle activity help too
Tiredness can be a problem during treatment and for a while after treatment. Rest, together with gentle physical activity, can help. If your body changes during treatment, your doctor or nurse can refer you to a dietitian.
A transplant, for some people
If the lymphoma comes back after treatment, a stem cell transplant may be offered. Very strong chemotherapy destroys the blood-forming cells, which are then replaced with stem cells collected and stored earlier, so your body can make healthy blood cells again.
Is there a cure?
Yes, usually, if it is found and treated early. Up to 9 in 10 people with newly found Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both. Clinical trials are testing new treatments, ways to stop it coming back and ways to lower side effects.
Sources
Written in plain words by Frontlight from these pages:
- NHS
- NHS: Hodgkin lymphoma – Symptoms
- NHS: Hodgkin lymphoma – What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
- NCI PDQ: Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Patient Version
- NHS: Hodgkin lymphoma – Tests and next steps
- NHS: Hodgkin lymphoma – Treatment
- Cancer Research UK (charity): Coping with Hodgkin lymphoma
- NCI PDQ: Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version