The adjuvant role of two cycles of MOPP and low-dose lung irradiation in stage IA through IIB Hodgkin's disease: preliminary results

Second Malignancies After Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Hodgkin Disease

The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine the incidence of second malignancies after combined-modality therapy for adults with Hodgkin disease and relate it to the details of initial treatment. We retrospectively studied 286 patients ranging in age from 16 to 88 years with stage I or II Hodgkin disease who were treated between 1980 and 1995 with chemotherapy followed 3 to 4 weeks later by radiotherapy. Patients received a median of three cycles of induction chemotherapy. Mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone was used in 161 cases, mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) in 67 cases, Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine in 19 cases, lomustine, vinblastine, procarbazine, and prednisone/doxorubicin, bleomycin, dacarbazine, and lomustine in 18 cases, and other chemotherapeutic regimens in the remaining 21 cases. The median radiotherapy dose was 40 Gy given in 20 daily 2-Gy fractions. Median follow-up of surviving patients was 7.4 years. There were 2,230 person-years of observation. Significantly increased relative risks (RR) were observed for acute myeloid leukemia (RR, 69.3; 95% CI, 14.3-202.6) and melanoma (RR, 7.3; 95% CI, 1.5-21.3). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year actuarial risks of acute myeloid leukemia were 0.8%, 1.3%, and 1.3%, respectively. Patients treated with MOPP had the highest 15-year actuarial risk of leukemia (1.6%). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year actuarial risks of solid tumors were 1.9%, 9.3%, and 16.8%, respectively. Consolidative radiotherapy to both sides of the diaphragm resulted in a trend toward an increased risk of solid tumors relative to radiotherapy to only one side of the diaphragm (p = 0.08). In an effort to reduce the risk of second malignancies, we have stopped using the alkylating agents nitrogen mustard and procarbazine and elective paraaortic and splenic radiotherapy after chemotherapy.

Analysis of in-field control and late toxicity for adults with early-stage Hodgkin's disease treated with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy

PURPOSE

We analyzed in-field (IF) control in adults with early-stage Hodgkin's disease who received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (RT) in terms of the (1) chemotherapeutic regimen used and number of cycles delivered, (2) response to chemotherapy, and (3) initial tumor size. Cardiac toxicity and second malignancies, particularly the incidence of solid tumors in terms of the RT field size treated, were also examined.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From 1980 to 1995, 286 patients ranging in age from 16 to 88 years (median: 28 years) with Ann Arbor clinical Stage I or II Hodgkin's disease underwent chemotherapy followed 3 to 4 weeks later by RT. There were 516 nodal sites measuring 0.5 to 19.0 cm at the start of chemotherapy, including 134 cases of bulky mediastinal disease. NOVP, MOPP, ABVD, CVPP/ABDIC, and other chemotherapeutic regimens were given to 161, 67, 19, 18, and 21 patients, respectively. Patients received 1-8 (median: 3) cycles of induction chemotherapy. All 533 gross nodal and extranodal sites of disease were included in the RT fields. The median prescribed RT dose for gross disease was 40.0 Gy given in 20 daily 2.0-Gy fractions. There was little variation in the RT dose. Eighty-five patients were treated with involved-field or regional RT (to one side of the diaphragm), and 201 patients were treated with extended-field RT (to both sides of the diaphragm), based on the protocol on which they were enrolled.

RESULTS

Follow-up of surviving patients ranged from 1.3 to 19.9 years (median: 7.4 years). Based on a review of simulation films, there were 16 IF, 8 marginal, and 15 out-of-field recurrences. The chemotherapeutic regimen used and the number of cycles of chemotherapy delivered did not significantly affect IF control. IF control also did not significantly depend on the response to induction chemotherapy. In cases where there was a confirmed or unconfirmed complete response as opposed to a partial response or stable disease in response to induction chemotherapy for bulky nodal disease, the 5-year IF control rates were 99% and 92%, respectively (p = 0.0006). The 15-year actuarial risks of coronary artery disease requiring surgical intervention and of solid tumors were 4.1% and 16.8%, respectively. There was a trend toward a greater risk of solid tumors in patients who received extended-field RT rather than involved-field or regional RT (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with nonbulky disease, induction chemotherapy followed by RT to a median dose of 40.0 Gy resulted in excellent IF control, regardless of the chemotherapeutic regimen used, the fact that only 1-2 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered, and the response to chemotherapy. There was a trend toward a higher incidence of solid tumors in patients who received consolidation RT to both sides rather than only one side of the diaphragm. Ongoing Phase III trials will help clarify whether lower RT doses and smaller RT fields after chemotherapy can maintain the IF control seen in our study, but with a lower incidence of late complications in patients with Stage I or II Hodgkin's disease.

An elevated serum beta-2-microglobulin level is an adverse prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with early-stage Hodgkin disease

BACKGROUND

The relative importance of prognostic factors in patients with early-stage Hodgkin disease remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors among patients who received chemotherapy before radiotherapy.

METHODS

From 1987 to 1995, 217 consecutive patients ranging in age from 16 to 88 years (median, 28 years) with Ann Arbor Stage I (n = 55) or II (n = 162) Hodgkin disease underwent chemotherapy before radiotherapy at a single center. Most were treated on prospective studies. Patients received a median of three cycles of induction chemotherapy. Mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone (NOVP), doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD), mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP), cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, procarbazine, prednisone, doxorubicin, bleomycin, dacarbazine, and CCNU (CVPP/ABDIC), or other chemotherapeutic regimens were given to 160, 18, 15, 10, and 14 patients, respectively. The median radiotherapy dose was 40 Gy. Serum beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2M) levels ranged from 1.0 to 4.1 mg/L (median, 1.7 mg/L; upper limit of normal, 2.0 mg/L). We studied univariate and multivariate associations between survival and the following clinical features: serum beta-2M level above 1.25 times the upper limit of normal (n = 12), male gender (n = 113), hypoalbuminemia (n = 11), and bulky mediastinal disease (n = 94).

RESULTS

Follow-up of surviving patients ranged from 0.9 to 13.4 years (median, 6.6 years) and 92% were observed for 3.0 or more years. Nineteen patients have died. Only elevation of the serum beta-2M level was an independent adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.0009).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic significance of a simple, widely available, and inexpensive blood test, beta-2M, has not been studied routinely in patients with Hodgkin disease and should be tested prospectively in large, cooperative group trials.

Radiotherapy alone for lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to analyze the results with radiotherapy alone in a select group of asymptomatic adults with nonbulky, early-stage lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1963 and 1995, 36 patients with nonbulky stage IA (N = 27) or IIA (N = 9) supradiaphragmatic (N = 27) or subdiaphragmatic (N = 9) lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease were treated with radiotherapy alone. Eleven of the patients underwent laparotomy. Limited-field radiotherapy involving only one side of the diaphragm and extended-field radiotherapy encompassing both sides of the diaphragm were used in 28 and 8 cases, respectively. Median dose to involved areas was 40.0 Gy given daily in 20 2.0-Gy fractions. Salvage treatmentconsisted of MOPP (mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone, procarbazine), CVPP/ABDIC (cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisone/doxorubicin, bleomycin, dacarbazine, lomustine, and prednisone), or ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) chemotherapy and/or involved-field radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 8.8 years (range, 3.0-34.4 years). None of the 15 patients with supradiaphragmatic disease who received limited-field radiotherapy to regions that did not include the mediastinal or hilar nodes subsequently experienced relapse there. Only one of 20 patients who received supradiaphragmatic limited-field radiotherapy alone experienced relapse in the paraaortic nodes or spleen. The 5-year relapse-free and overall survival rates for the 20 patients with stage IA lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease treated with involved-field or regional radiotherapy were 95% and 100%, respectively. There were no cases of severe or life-threatening cardiac toxicity. No solid tumors have been observed in-field in patients treated with limited-field radiotherapy, even though they have been followed up longer than those treated with extended-field radiotherapy (median follow-up, 11.6 vs 5.5 years); two solid tumors have developed in-field in patients who received extended-field radiotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Involved-field or regional radiotherapy alone may be adequate in stage IA lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease patients. Longer follow-up will help to more clearly define the risks of cardiac toxicity and solid tumors that result from involved-field or regional radiotherapy, which appear to be low based on follow-up to date.

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte very favorable and favorable, lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease

BACKGROUND

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease (LPHD) is rare and has a natural history different from that of classic Hodgkin disease. There is little information in the literature regarding the role of chemotherapy in patients with early-stage LPHD. The objective of this study was to examine recurrence free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and patterns of first recurrence in patients with LPHD who were treated with radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

METHODS

From 1963 to 1996, 48 consecutive patients ages 16-49 years (median, 28 years) with Ann Arbor Stage I (n = 30 patients) or Stage II (n = 18 patients), very favorable (VF; n = 5 patients) or favorable (F; n = 43 patients) LPHD, according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (EORTC-GELA) criteria, received radiotherapy alone (n = 37 patients) or received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (n = 11 patients). The percentages of patients with VF disease (11% vs. 9% in the radiotherapy group vs. the chemotherapy plus radiotherapy group, respectively) or F disease (89% vs. 91%, respectively) within the two treatment groups were similar (P = 1.00). A median of three cycles of chemotherapy with mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) or with mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone (NOVP) was given initially to six patients and five patients, respectively. A median total radiotherapy dose of 40 grays (Gy) given in daily fractions of 2.0 Gy was delivered to both treatment groups.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 9.3 years, and 98% of patients were observed for > or = 3.0 years. RFS was similar for patients who were treated with radiotherapy alone and patients who were treated with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (10-year survival rates: 77% and 68%, respectively; P = 0.89). The OS rate also was similar for the two groups (10-year survival rates: 90% and 100%, respectively; P = 0.43). MOPP or NOVP chemotherapy did not reduce the risk of recurrence outside of the radiotherapy fields.

CONCLUSIONS

MOPP or NOVP chemotherapy did not improve RFS or OS significantly in patients with VF or F LPHD, although the statistical power was limited. Ongoing clinical trials will help to clarify the role of a watch-and-wait strategy or systemic therapy, including anthracycline (epirubicin or doxorubicin), bleomycin, and vinblastine-based chemotherapy or antibody-based approaches, in the treatment of these patients.

[Hodgkin's disease: from gross tumor volume to clinical target volume, firm data and unresolved problems]

The purpose of this article is to specify the target volumes, using ICRU criteria in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Because of the complexity of irradiation fields, the literature was carefully reviewed. However, with the variations of the recommendations and in the absence of large-scale studies, usual criteria can still be used. A consensus about the precise specification of the target volumes on CAT scan is still urgently awaited.

Hodgkin's disease with lymphocyte predominance: long-term results based on current histopathologic criteria

PURPOSE

To define the disease course, therapeutic strategies, patterns and rates of relapse and causes of death for patients with Hodgkin's disease with lymphocyte predominance (LPHD) and to assess prognostic factors including nodular and diffuse histologic patterns.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The records of all previously untreated patients with LPHD who received initial treatment at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) from 1960 through 1992 were reviewed. Clinical and histopathologic characteristics, specifically nodular and diffuse LPHD, and treatment groups were assessed by overall and relapse-free survival, patterns of relapse, and causes of death.

RESULTS

Of 70 patients, 58 (83%) had nodular LPHD and 12 (17%) had a diffuse pattern: clinical characteristics were similar between the two subtypes. The median age of all patients was 25 years, 79% were male, 96% presented with stage I or II disease and 93% were free of B symptoms. Laparotomy (23 patients) failed to upstage any patient with a negative lymphogram. With a median follow-up of 12.3 years for alive patients, 19 (27%) patients have relapsed. All 3 relapses among the patients with diffuse subtype occurred within 3 years while 9 of 16 relapses occurred after 5 years with nodular subtype. However, we did not detect any statistically significant difference in relapse free survival or survival between the subtypes in our patient population. There was some suggestion that patients aged 40 and older experienced shorter survival; no other pretreatment characteristics were noted to be associated with relapse free survival or survival. Though there were no relapses within the radiation fields, no effect of extent of radiation therapy on relapse rate was observed. Thirteen (19%) patients have died, 6 (8.6%) of whom succumbed to LPHD. Two patients developed diffuse large cell lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with LPHD usually present with localized and asymptomatic disease. Laparotomy is unnecessary if the lymphogram is negative. Nodular histology occurred in the majority of patients. Though all relapses from diffuse subtype occurred within 3 years in contrast to some late relapses observed for nodular subtype, there was no statistically significant difference in relapse free survival or survival between the subtypes. The extent of irradiation had no effect on relapse free survival or survival. We could not find any evidence that LPHD should be treated any different from the classical Hodgkin's disease at this point despite suggestions that it be classified as a non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma.

Current strategies for early Hodgkin's disease

A small percentage (approximately < 10%) of patients present with minimal disease that is treatable with only mantle radiotherapy. The vast majority will present with apparent local disease but will have one or another poor prognostic features necessitating staging laparotomy if only mantle/para-aortic radiation therapy is the desired approach. Otherwise, more extensive radiation including splenic fields would be required or combined modality. The unanswered questions include: (1) definition of patients who require no adjunctive radiation therapy; (2) an assessment of the actual quantity of chemotherapy needed if complementary radiation therapy is to be added; and (3) determination of whether 67gallium/SPECT scan can provide a measure of the efficacy of chemotherapy. Finally, can a less toxic regimen be substituted for ABVD in the treatment of early stage disease? Many of these questions are currently under investigation.

Treatment of early and intermediate stages of supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease: the Swedish National Care Programme experience. Swedish Lymphoma Study Group

PURPOSE

Since 1985 a Swedish National Care Programme has provided tailored principles for the staging, treatment and follow-up of patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD). This report presents treatment results for all patients below 60 years of age who were diagnosed with early and intermediate stages, between 1985 and 1989.

PATIENTS AND TREATMENT

During that period, 210 patients with supradiaphragmatic HD in clinical (CS) and pathological (PS) stages IA+IIA, PS IB+IIB, and PS III1 A were diagnosed in five Health Care Regions in Sweden. In patients with CS IA, staging laparotomy was not recommended provided that the radiological assessment of the abdomen was adequate, whereas this procedure was recommended in stages CS IB, IIA and IIB in order to minimize treatment. In the absence of bulky mediastinal disease, patients with CS+PS IA and PS IIA were treated with mantle (occasionally mini-mantle) irradiation alone, while patients with bulky disease, as well as those with stages PS IB+IIB+III1 A, were treated with one cycle of MOPP/ABVD prior to mantle (PS III1 A sub-total nodal) irradiation. Full chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy to initial sites with bulky disease was recommended for patients with CS IIA who did not undergo laparotomy.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up in excess of five years, treatment results are 'favourable' for all stages, provided the recommendations were followed. In patients with CS+PS IA treated according to the recommendations, recurrence rates were 14% (9/65) with all but one patient (64/65, 98%) remaining in continuous first or second remission. These figures were worse in patients treated inadequately (9/26 [35%] and 22/26 [85%], respectively). In PS IIA, adequately-treated patients had a recurrence rate of 13% (7/52) whereas 5/7 (71%) of those with bulky disease who received only mantle irradiation developed recurrences. Similar patterns also emerged in patients with CS IIA, PS IB+IIB and PS III1 A.

CONCLUSIONS

The tailored principles, which usually entail less staging and/or treatment than is generally the case, produced favourable results when applied to an entirely unselected group of patients with early and intermediate stages of HD.

Hodgkin's disease with a mediastinal mass greater than 10 cm: results of four different treatment approaches

BACKGROUND

Management of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and large mediastinal adenopathy (LMA) usually includes intensive chemotherapy (CT) with or without radiation therapy (XT) regardless of stage.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and eighteen evaluable patients received one of four treatment regimens: (1) 6 cycles of MOPP or similar CT and XT; (2) 2 of MOPP followed by XT; (3) 6 of CVPP/ABDIC (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone/doxorubicin, bleomycin, decarbazine, prednisone, lomustine) followed by XT; or (4) 3 of NOVP (mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, procarbazine) and XT. XT doses included 30-40 Gy to areas of nodal involvement noted prior to therapy.

RESULTS

Complete remission (CR) rates for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 100%, 85%, 87%, and 96%. Respective 3-year freedom from progression (FFP) results were 88%, 66%, 82%, and 88%, and 3-year freedom from tumor mortality (FTM) results were 100%, 84%, 84%, and 100%. The presence of B symptoms and stage IV disease was correlated with lower CR and 3-year FFP rates but similar 3-year survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study suggest that patients with stage I-III Hodgkin's disease and LMA greater than 10 cm treated with 3 NOVP and XT have results similar to those obtained for a similar group of patients treated with 2 to 6 MOPP or 6 CVPP/ABDIC and XT. NOVP has also been reported to produce limited toxicity in this trial and should be considered as an alternative to MOPP or doxorubicin-containing regimens in treatment of patients with early-staged disease and LMA greater than 10 cm.

A new chemotherapy regimen for treatment of Hodgkin's disease associated with minimal genotoxicity

Recently, the combination chemotherapy Novantrone, Oncovin, Velban, Prednisone [NOVP] was developed by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for treatment of Hodgkin's disease [HD]. Preliminary clinical results show that NOVP is as effective as the traditional Mechlorethamine, Oncovin, Procarbazine, Prednisone [MOPP] regimen in achieving remission, but with fewer side-effects. To determine if NOVP is genotoxic, we studied the induction of chromosome breaks and sister chromatid exchanges [SCEs] in lymphocytes of 42 HD patients both before and during NOVP treatment. Furthermore, in vitro bleomycin treatment was used to unmask potential single-stranded DNA breaks inducted by the therapy. Our results showed that NOVP did not cause elevated levels of chromosome or single-stranded DNA breaks, or SCEs. These results together with previous findings that NOVP caused minimal acute and gonadal toxicities suggest that NOVP is less toxic than MOPP. Therefore, this new regimen shows promise as an effective and minimally toxic regimen for treatment of HD.

Hodgkin's disease: study of treatment intensities and incidences of second malignancies

BACKGROUND

Advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy have gradually increased cure rates for patients with Hodgkin's disease. With improved long-term survivals, increases in observed second malignancies over those of the general population have been reported as early as 1972. Recently, a number of investigators have suggested that the relative importance of recognized risk factors contributing to the development of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and solid tumors may be different. Our study is concerned with the influence of various risk factors on patients who have been treated with modern radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy between 1966 and 1987.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the records of 1,022 patients with Hodgkin's disease of whom 1,013 had sufficient data for analysis. Kaplan-Meier methodology was used to calculate overall and determinate survivals and occurrences of acute myelogenous leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and solid tumors. The observed to expected incidences, calculated from the SEER incidence and population files for 1976, were compared. Using Cox's proportional hazards model, the following were analyzed singly for risk significance for the entire population: age, stage, splenectomy, treatment modality, treatment intensity, and number of treated relapses. Separate analyses were performed to determine the relative risks for subsets of the population. These included pelvic radiotherapy for those with stage III disease and specific alkylating agents for patients who were treated with chemotherapy only.

RESULTS

Sixty-six instances of second malignancy were documented as follows: AML 14, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 14, and solid tumors 38. The overall incidence of second malignancy was significantly greater than the expected incidence of 21.75 (p = 0.0001) and it was also significant for AML, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and solid tumors. Analyses for risk of second malignancy demonstrated that age > or = 40 years, stage III or stage IV disease, and treatment with chemotherapy only were all associated with a significantly higher risk of second malignancy than any of the other factors. However, only treatment with regimens containing nitrogen mustard had a significantly higher risk for second malignancy. Treatment intensity and number of treated relapses had no specific effect on risk. Joint modeling of age, stage, and treatment showed that the combination of age and stage was the most significant risk factor for AML and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (p = < 0.0003). However, only age was important for solid tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis suggests that the most critical host factor for developing a second malignancy was age. The fact that patients with stages III and IV disease had an increased risk of second malignancy regardless of age suggests that biologic factors related to the tumor also may have been significant. However, it is possible that the effect of treatment was hidden by stage.

Are alkylating agents a necessary component in the therapy of Hodgkin's disease

Management of early stages of Hodgkin's disease requires development of treatment programs that are nominally toxic, with a low likelihood of sterility and secondary malignancies, both associated with alkylating agents. Although patients with laparotomy-staged disease without B symptoms or large mediastinal masses have good results when treated with radiotherapy alone, patients with adverse features need chemotherapy for optimal disease-free survival results. MOPP and its variants have been studied extensively for adjuvant therapy of patients with early staged disease but are associated with the development of secondary malignancies, including acute leukemia and solid tumors. ABVD has been compared with MOPP in combination with radiation therapy for patients with stages IIB and IIIB, and ABVD is not associated with a high risk of acute leukemia; however, cardiac and pulmonary toxicities have been reported, and there may be long term complications following ABVD in combined modality programs. In 1988, we developed NOVP [mitoxantrone (Novantrone), vincristine, vinblastine, prednisone], designed as adjuvant chemotherapy to treat patients with clinically staged I-II Hodgkin's disease who had unfavorable features, including B symptoms, large mediastinal masses, and hilar lymph node involvement. We also included patients with peripheral masses > or = 10 cms and those with stage III disease. In the second phase of this study, we treated patients without adverse features, in order to avoid laparotomy. The treatment plan included three cycles of NOVP, followed by radiotherapy to the mantle and the abdomen, with fields depending upon disease presentation. Patients with large mediastinal masses or hilar involvement also received low dose lung radiotherapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

NOVP and radiotherapy for early-staged Hodgkin's disease: an interim analysis

Modern treatment plans for early staged Hodgkin's disease must focus on optimal disease-free survival results without laparotomy, minimal acute toxicity, and reduced long-term complications. We have treated 69 adult patients with stage I-II Hodgkin's disease, 40 of whom had bulky disease, B symptoms, or hilar disease, and 22 with stage III disease with 3 cycles of NOVP (Novantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, prednisone) and radiotherapy. Only patients with stage III1 disease involving the celiac axis without para-aortic or pelvic involvement, had to undergo laparotomy prior to treatment. Three patients did not respond to NOVP: two of these did not respond to MOPP or ABDIC, and two are currently without relapse following bone marrow transplant. With a median follow-up of 18 months, 62 with stage I-II and 19 with stage III remain without relapse, and 91 patients are alive. Tolerance to therapy was excellent with minimal nausea, myalgias, and alopecia. We conclude that this regimen for Hodgkin's disease provides good results for clinically staged I-III disease, but longer follow-up may demonstrate prognostic factors which will influence our results.

Is the dose-response relationship for local control of Hodgkin's disease obscured by lung inhomogeneity corrections?

Absence of a dose-response relationship has been reported for local control of Hodgkin's disease between 30 and 42 Gy delivered to the mantle field in definitive irradiation. These dose ranges were determined at the central ray using irregular field (IF) calculations without benefit of dosimetric correction for lung inhomogeneity. Detailed analysis was performed of dose delivered to hilar and mediastinal regions with mantle field irradiation incorporating lung inhomogeneity corrections for the indicated dose ranges using 60Co and 6 MV linear accelerator. Inclusion of lung inhomogeneity (LI) corrections revealed dose heterogeneity within the treatment volume, delivering higher total doses to hilar and lateral mediastinal regions. For a prescribed dose of 40 Gy to midline with 6 MV photons, the hila and mediastinum would receive 45 Gy with IF and LI corrections. Similar increases are observed with 60Co. Mantle field calculations should be performed with CT planning including lung inhomogeneity corrections to account for anatomic irregularity of the mediastinal contour and interposed lung. As lung inhomogeneity dosimetric data become available, conclusions drawn from clinical experience should be re-evaluated based upon location and extent of mediastinal disease involvement. Implications for treatment associated late toxicity using dose-volume histogram analysis should be considered.

Chemotherapy of Hodgkin's disease

An overall perspective of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease has been presented with particular emphasis on the treatment options to be considered at each stage of the disease. In 1950, M. Vera Peters ended her paper on the 'radiological' treatment of Hodgkin's disease thus: 'In the light of present knowledge the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease should not be regarded with despair and the patient treated as incurable.... If a single ray of hope emerges from this analysis, the treatment of the individual concerned is a challenge to the combined efforts of the radiotherapist, the physician and the surgeon' (Peters, 1950). Over the ensuing 40 years, substantial progress has been made, but any further improvement must begin with an increase in the proportion of patients for whom complete remission is achieved. Prospective comparisons of hybrid regimens against standard chemotherapy are in progress and the results of these trials will hopefully answer the question as to which is the optimal regimen in the primary treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease. The advent of growth factors may allow for an increase in dose intensity, possibly improving the results further. The role of very intensive therapy with autologous bone marrow support remains to be defined and is currently being evaluated in different trial settings. Meanwhile, the quest for alternative, less toxic compounds goes on. The challenge continues.

Two cycles of MOPP and radiotherapy: effective treatment for stage IIIA and IIIB Hodgkin's disease

Two cycles of MOPP (mechlorethamine, vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine, prednisone) and radiotherapy were used to treat 197 patients with stage III Hodgkin's disease. Prior to 1980, radiotherapy was delivered to the mantle, abdomen and pelvis; thereafter, pelvic irradiation was deleted for patients with stage III1 disease. Complete remission rates for IIIA and IIIB presentations were 91% and 89%. The 10-year freedom from tumor mortality (FTM) rate for all patients was 81%; for IIIA, it was 87% and for IIIB, it was 72%. Results were not significantly affected by gender, age, pathology, or deletion of pelvic radiotherapy. However, a subgroup of 28 patients with a tumor burden that included pelvic disease who also had B symptoms was identified as having a poor prognosis. Their FTM was 43%, compared with 87% for all other patients combined (P = 0.002). Based on this analysis, we conclude that limited chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy can yield results similar to programs that use more chemotherapy for all patients with IIIA disease and for most patients with stage IIIB. However, patients with tumor burdens which include pelvic disease and B symptoms require a different approach.