title: OPEC chemotherapy (vincristine, prednisolone, etoposide and chlorambucil) for refractory and recurrent Hodgkin's disease.
abstract: Fifteen adults with refractory or recurrent Hodgkin's disease were treated with a combination of: vincristine, prednisolone, etoposide and chlorambucil (OPEC). All had previously received mustine, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisolone (MVPP) and seven had subsequently been treated with alternative regimens. Responses were achieved in four, but complete remission in only one. Toxicity was considerable and five died of treatment related complications. Only two are alive (one in complete remission) more than three years after therapy. The toxicity of the OPEC regimen outweighed its benefit in this group of poor prognosis patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002699:Chlorambucil; D011344:Procarbazine; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D005047:Etoposide; D011239:Prednisolone