title: Patients with stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease in partial remission after MOPP/ABV chemotherapy have excellent prognosis after additional involved-field radiotherapy: interim results from the ongoing EORTC-LCG and GPMC phase III trial. The EORTC Lymphoma Cooperative Group and Groupe Pierre-et-Marie-Curie.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Failure to reach complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy in advanced stages of Hodgkin's disease is considered a poor prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival. The role of radiotherapy after chemotherapy-induced remission is controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1989, the EORTC/GPMC started a randomized phase III trial on involved-field RT (IF-RT) after MOPP/ABV hybrid-induced remission in patients with stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease. In this ongoing trial, patients in CR after chemotherapy are randomized between IF-RT and no further treatment. Patients in partial remission (PR) all receive IF-RT. Patients, age 15-70 years, with previously untreated stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease are eligible. The randomized treatment arms are still blinded. The interim analysis of May 1996 focuses on the outcome of patients in chemotherapy-induced PR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 405 of 493 registered patients were evaluable for response to chemotherapy. Fifty-nine percent of patients attained a CR, 37% a PR, and only 4% failed to respond. The IF-RT was actually given to 90% of the PR patients. After a median follow-up of 43 months, the five year progression-free and overall survival for patients in PR was 75% and 87%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IF-RT after MOPP/ABV-induced partial remission in stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease produces excellent failure-free and overall survival. Early intensification of treatment of this group of patients is not indicated.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raemaekers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burgers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henry-Amar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monfardini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagenbeek
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Breed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carde
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vovk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Hoof
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noordijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D011344:Procarbazine; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011241:Prednisone