Analysis of long-term results and prognostic factors among 138 patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease treated with the alternating MOPP/ABVD chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
A prospective study was conducted to assess (a) the long-term results and toxicity of the alternating MOPP/ABVD regimen in advanced Hodgkin's disease; (b) the prognostic value of pretreatment variables and of drug dose intensity.


METHODS
A total 138 consecutive patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease entered this study; patient selection included stages IIB (33% of total), IIIB (26%), IV (25%), and stages IIA-IIIA (16%) with bulky disease and pulmonary hilum involvement. The MOPP/ABVD program was delivered in an 8-month program; adjuvant radiotherapy on sites of bulky disease was delivered in 24 patients.


RESULTS
Complete remission was obtained in 106 (77%) patients; significant factors for CR in univariate analysis were stage, symptoms, histology, and bone marrow involvement. The five-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 83%; in a multivariate analysis, histology only correlated with RFS (p = 0.04). The five-year freedom from tumor mortality and overall survival (OS) were 79% and 67%, respectively. An adverse prognostic significance for OS was observed for B symptoms and bone marrow involvement. The median percentage of relative dose intensity (RDI) was as follows: Adriamycin 86, mechlorethamine 85, vincristine 73, vinblastine 84, bleomycin 79, procarbazine 74, dacarbazine 81. No significant association was found between RDI and clinical outcome. No severe pancytopenia or life-threatening complications occurred during therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Alternating MOPP and ABVD cured more than 65% of patients with advanced HD; acute and late toxicity were acceptable. Prognostic analysis defined subgroups with a lower chance of cure which may deserve a more intensive initial therapy.
Brusamolino
E
E
Cattedra di Ematologia, Università di Pavia, Italy.
Orlandi
E
E
Morra
E
E
Castelli
G
G
Pagnucco
G
G
Livraghi
A
A
Astori
C
C
Santagostino
A
A
Lazzarino
M
M
Bernasconi
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D001761:Bleomycin; D011344:Procarbazine; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011241:Prednisone