EBVD and alternating MOPP/EBVD with or without localized field radiotherapy in advanced or unfavorably presenting Hodgkin's disease.
METHODS
Ninety-five patients with previously untreated, advanced or unfavorably presenting Hodgkin's disease were recruited in ten centers. Twenty-five patients with stage II-A-bulky disease received four courses of EBVD (epirubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) plus involved field radiotherapy (Group 1); 24 patients in stage I-B, II-B and III-A received 6 courses of EBVD (11 of them also received radiotherapy on bulky localizations (Group 2); 46 patients in stage III-AS > or = 3 nodes, III-B and IV received MOPP/EBVD 4 + 4 courses (Group 3).


RESULTS
Eighty patients (84%) achieved CR, eight patients (8%) a PR, five patients did not respond and two progressed during therapy. CRs were achieved by 23/25 patients (92%) in Group 1, 21/24 (87%) in Group 2 and 36/46 (78%) in Group 3. The mean duration of follow-up was 33.3 months (range 5-69). There were three deaths from directly treatment-related causes. Twelve patients suffered chronic toxicity, including six who suffered lung toxicity and two who developed secondary myelodysplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
The results achieved in this co-operative study are similar to those reported by most single-Institution trials and those with adriamycin-containing regimens. Long-term toxicity deserves careful consideration.
II Medicine Division, Busto Arsizio, Italy.
E M
EM
Pogliani
G L
GL
Deliliers
L
L
Baldini
A
A
Tosi
C
C
Butti
O
O
Chiorboli
C
C
Confalonieri
S
S
Fava
M C
MC
Giorgetti
M
M
Maioli
A T
AT
Maiolo
P
P
Marinoni
L
L
Montalbetti
R
R
Mozzana
G
G
Pavia
G
G
Pinotti
F
F
Rossini
P
P
Vanoli
A
A
Venco
E
E
Cassi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011344:Procarbazine; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D011241:Prednisone