title: CEP regimen (CCNU, etoposide, prednimustine) for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although initial treatment of Hodgkin's disease induces a complete remission in most patients, approximately 50% of patients with advanced disease will not achieve a complete remission or will relapse following the first complete remission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with relapsed/resistant Hodgkin's disease, observed between January 1991 and October 1993, underwent CEP combination chemotherapy (CCNU, etoposide, prednimustine). All patients had previously received MOPP and ABVD regimens, in combination at diagnosis or sequentially (at diagnosis and at the first relapse).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen (56%) patients achieved complete responses and 4 (18%) had partial responses. Two partial responders obtained a complete remission after a successive autologous bone marrow transplantation. The complete remission was not influenced by the timing of MOPP and ABVD treatments, presence of extranodal involvement or presence of bulky disease, but was affected by the presence of a primary disease refractory to the first standard programs. All the complete responders but 2 were alive and relapse-free at a median follow-up of 15 months; no major toxic effects were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest, as did those of other studies, that CEP is an effective regimen in patients with Hodgkin's disease in first or second relapse, also to reduce the tumor burden and to determine chemosensitivity before contingent bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell support.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, L. e A. Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendandi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gherlinzoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ammendolia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvucci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiacchini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011238:Prednimustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D008130:Lomustine; D011238:Prednimustine