Clinical stage I and II Hodgkin's disease: long-term results of therapy without laparotomy. Experience at one institution.
BACKGROUND
We concluded a program in which we administered radiotherapy only to clinical stages I and II Hodgkin's disease patients at standard risk, with the addition of 4 cycles of combination chemotherapy before radiotherapy for high-risk patients.


METHODS
From 1980 to 1991, 313 patients with clinical stages I or II Hodgkin's disease underwent treatment in our hospital. Fifty percent of the patients in groups previously identified as being at high risk for relapse received 4 cycles of combination chemotherapy before radiotherapy. The remaining half of the patients received radiotherapy only.


RESULTS
Low- and high-risk patients aged 15-59 years had, respectively, complete remission (CR) rates of 97% and 94%, 5-year survivals of 95% and 91%, and 5-year freedom from relapse (FFR) rates of 78% and 89%. Older low- and high-risk groups had CR rates of 97% and 93%, 5-year survivals of 60% and 56% and 5-year FFR of 77% and 93%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Here we present our favorable results after treating standard-risk patients with clinical stages I and II Hodgkin's disease with radiotherapy only. With the addition of chemotherapy, the rate of relapse in the high-risk patients was reduced below that of the standard-risk patients. Overall survival was the same for the high- and standard-risk patients.
Abrahamsen
A F
AF
Department of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Olso, Norway.
Hannisdal
E
E
Nome
O
O
Holte
H
H
Hager
B
B
Langholm
R
R
Kvaløy
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012307:Risk Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents