Efficacy of the VBM regimen in the treatment of elderly patients with Hodgkin's disease.
OBJECTIVE
No specific chemotherapy regimens have yet been recommended for elderly Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of the three-drug-combination VBM (vinblastine, bleomycin, and methotrexate) regimen in a group of 19 elderly HD patients.


METHODS
Vinblastine (6 mg/m(2) i.v.), bleomycin (10 mg/m(2) i.v.) and methotrexate (25 mg/m(2) i.v.) were administered on days 1 and 8. Chemotherapy was repeated every 28 days for a total of 6 cycles. Local radiotherapy was given only to patients who presented bulky disease at the time of diagnosis. Of the 19 patients, 13 patients had stage II, 2 stage III, and 4 stage IV disease; the median age was 68 years (range 60 to 75).


RESULTS
Of the 19 patients, 15 (79%) achieved complete response (CR) and 3 (16%) partial response, while the remaining patient showed no benefit from the treatment. With a median follow-up of 48 months, the estimated 5-year relapse-free survival was 79%, and overall survival was 64%. Hematologic grade 3-4 toxicity was seen in only 1 (5%) patient; no severe non-hematologic side effects or deaths were associated with the administration of the VBM regimen.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data indicate that the VBM regimen provides a safe and effective therapeutic option for elderly patients with untreated HD.
Zinzani
P L
PL
Istituto di Ematologia e Oncologia Medica "Seràgnoli", Policlinico S.Orsola, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna Italy. plzinzo@med.unibo.it
Magagnoli
M
M
Bendandi
M
M
Barbieri
E
E
Galuppi
A
A
Gherlinzoni
F
F
Tani
M
M
Albertini
P
P
Stefoni
V
V
Babini
L
L
Tura
S
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity
D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D008727:Methotrexate