title: A randomized trial of brief treatment of early- stage Hodgkin lymphoma: Is it effective?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whether it is possible to reduce the intensity of treatment in early (stage I or II) Hodgkin lymphoma with a favorable prognosis remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this randomized trial, comparing two treatment groups consisting of a combination chemotherapy regimen of two different intensities followed by involved-field radiation therapy at two different dose levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, in patients referred to the Department Of Clinical Oncology And Nuclear Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight patients with histologically proven early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma with a favorable prognosis were enrolled in this study between January 2008 and June 2010. They were randomly assigned in one of two treatment arms: arm I received four cycles of ABVD (adriamycin, belomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy; arm II received two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up period, the 2-year relapse-free survival rates were 96% and 95% in arm I and arm II, respectively (P=.8), while the 2-year overall survival rates were 98% and 95% in arm I and arm II, respectively (P=.16). acute toxicity affected 54% of patients treated with four cycles of ABVD, who had grade III or IV toxicity, as compared with 30% of those receiving two cycles (P<.02). The rates of acute toxicity (grade III or IV) were also higher among patients treated with 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy than among those receiving 20 Gy (16% vs. 2.5%, P<.03) .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma and a favorable prognosis, treatment with two cycles of aBVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy was as effective as, and less toxic than, four cycles of ABVD followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department Of Clinical Oncology And Nuclear Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura Egypt. rashahamdy22@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Anter
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Awad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D004317:Doxorubicin