title: MOPP/EBV/CAD hybrid chemotherapy with or without limited radiotherapy in advanced or unfavorably presenting Hodgkin's disease: a report from the Italian Lymphoma Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored the feasibility, toxicity, and preliminary results of a chemotherapy (CT) regimen, mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP)/epidoxirubicin, bleomycin, and vinblastine (EBV)/lomustine (CCNU), doxorubicin, and vindesine (CAD), derived through hybridization, shortening, and intensification of a corresponding 10-drug alternating combination CAD/MOPP/doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vinblastine (ABV), effective in treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease (HD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hybridization involved all drugs except CCNU and mechlorethamine, which were administered in alternating cycles; the length of therapy was reduced from nine to six cycles. The average projected drug doses during the six cycles were increased by 42%, with an overall 1.54 dose-intensification; epidoxorubicin was substituted for doxorubicin at equivalent tumoricidal doses. Radiotherapy (RT) was optional and its indications were limited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty assessable patients with previously untreated, advanced or unfavorably presenting HD were treated in nine cooperating institutions between 1988 and 1991. RT was delivered to 22 patients. Remissions were complete (CR) in 75 patients (93%), partial in three (4%), and null in two (3%). The median relative dose-intensity was 0.71 for the overall regimen. Three of five patients who failed to achieve CR, and two of the four who relapsed, received lower relative dose-intensive cycles. Nonhematologic toxicity was acceptable, but there was considerable hematologic toxicity. Fatal gastrointestinal bleeding was seen in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caution is advised due to the short median follow-up period. Nevertheless, in addition to the excellent response rate, (1) the results were reached through abbreviation, intensification, and hybridization of an existing alternating regimen; (2) RT had limited use in this program, which may have contributed to lowering the risk of second tumors; and (3) the results were obtained in a multicenter study (a condition that often impairs results from clinical trials).
authors.affiliation: Università di Pavia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) S. Matteo, Italy.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pieresca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Narni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iannitto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grignani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavanna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Partesotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D011344:Procarbazine; D015251:Epirubicin; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D008130:Lomustine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D014751:Vindesine; D011241:Prednisone