title: Efficacy of the VBM regimen in the treatment of elderly patients with Hodgkin's disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ematologia e Oncologia Medica "Seràgnoli", Policlinico S.Orsola, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna Italy. plzinzo@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magagnoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendandi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galuppi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gherlinzoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albertini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tura
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D008727:Methotrexate