MOPP Treatment of Resistant Hodgkin's Disease following ABVD Failure

Fourteen patients with Hodgkin's disease resistant to ABVD were treated with MOPP chemotherapy (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone). Complete remission was obtained in 6 patients (43%). Four of the 6 complete responders are disease free after 5, 20, 23, 35 months. The actuarial median survival after MOPP of all patients is 20 months. These data confirm that there is no «cross-resistance» among the drugs included in the two schedules.

Hodgkin's Disease Stage I and II with Exclusive Subdiaphragmatic Presentation. The Experience of the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Hematology, University “La Sapienza” of Rome

During the period 1978 to 1994, 1054 patients with Hodgkin's disease were evaluated and treated at the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Hematology, University “La Sapienza”, Rome. A total of 549 patients presented with clinical or pathological stage I and II; 37 of these had Hodgkin's disease below the diaphragm (BDHD), and 512 above the diaphragm (ADHD). A comparison of patients with BDHD versus those with ADHD showed that the first group had a higher male to female ratio. A comparison of cases with stage II BDHD versus those with stage II ADHD showed that patients with BDHD were older (48 years vs 28 years), had different histologic features and a higher incidence of systemic symptoms (67% vs 33%). Stage II BDHD patients had a worse prognosis; in fact, there were significant differences in the overall survival and relapse-free-survival rates for cases with stage II BDHD versus those with stage II ADHD (overall survival, 46% vs 80%, P<0.001; relapse-free survival, 44% vs 69%, P<0.005). Stage was found to be the most important prognostic factor for BDHD cases without systemic symptoms treated with radiation therapy alone. The type of infradiaphragmatic presentation (intra-abdominal vs peripheral disease) did not influence outcome, probably due to the more aggressive therapy received by the intra-adbominal group. Treatment recommendations for BDHD cases should be tailored to the stage and the presence or absence of intra-abdominal localization. For patients with stage IA extended fields, irradiation (inverted Y) is sufficent. However, combined modality therapy should be the treatment of choice for stage II cases, particularly in the presence of intra-abdominal disease. Patients with systemic symptoms also require combined modalities.

Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma in Adults: Morphological and Phenotypical Study of Four Cases

In the present study we investigated the lymph node morphology and distribution of cell surface phenotypes in four cases of adult peripheral T cell lymphoma. Histologically, the tumors were classified as T zone lymphoma, T cell lymphoma with large multilobated nuclei and T cell immunoblastic sarcoma. In the T zone lymphoma the neoplastic lymphocytes were E+ (90 %) and exhibited intensive focal staining for acid phosphatase (93 %) and acid esterase (92 %); the phenotype distribution revealed low expression of the T-3 antigen (49 %), selective expression of the T-4 antigen (72 %) and poor expression of T-6 (10 %) and T-10 antigens (22 %). Some of these features are present in normal and in neoplastic immature T cells. In the remaining three cases the majority of lymph node cells were E+ (59–75 %), T-3+ (67–80 %) and T-8+ (43–55 %). A distinctive feature of the T cell immunoblastic sarcoma was the presence of high percentages of DR+ cells (62 %; 63 %). Thus our results indicate that the morphological heterogeneity of peripheral T cell lymphoma is also paralleled by a variety of surface phenotypes and that phenotype studies may provide a useful contribution to identification and accurate classification of peripheral T cell neoplasms.

Bone Marrow Involvement at Onset of Hodgkin's Disease

Bilateral trephine bone marrow biopsies of 370 patients with Hodgkin's disease first seen at the Institute of Hematology, University of Rome, between 1970 and 1981, revealed tumor involvement of the bone marrow in 18 cases. The histologic type was mixed cellularity in 7 cases, lymphocytic depletion in 4 cases, nodular sclerosis in 4 cases, and lymphocytic prevalence in 1 case. Anemia with less than 10 g/dl of hemoglobin was observed in 5 patients; white blood cells were less than 4.0 × 109/liter in 2 patients; platelets were less than 12.0 × 109/liter in 1 case; a pancytopenic condition was observed in only 1 case. B symptoms were present in 14 of the 18 patients. All patients who underwent laparosplenectomy presented spleen involvement, 4 also had liver involvement. All patients were treated with chemotherapy; MOPP regimen was employed in 11 cases, ABVD in 5 patients, and PROVECIP in 1 case. Of the 13 patients evaluable for therapeutic response, 11 achieved complete remission, with a median actuarial relapse-free survival of 15 months. The actuarial survival curve showed that 50% of all patients are projected alive at 47 months with a follow-up ranging from 1 to 109 months.

Is bone marrow trephine biopsy always mandatory in staging Hodgkin's disease?

We reviewed data from 690 adult patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) to determine whether bone marrow trephine biopsy (BMTB) is mandatory for all patients. The data suggest that it is not necessary in clinical stage I-IIA. However, bilateral BMTB is recommended in the presence of B symptoms also in patients with localized stage disease.

Intermediate stage Hodgkin's disease: preliminary results on 210 patients treated with four ABVD chemotherapy cycles plus extended versus involved field radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

To improve long-term survival by reducing toxicity in intermediate stage Hodgkin's disease patients, we compared the effects of involved field (IF) versus extended field (EF) irradiation administered after four cycles of ABVD regimen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred and ten Hodgkin's disease patients, at clinical stage II with risk factors and III without risk factors, were enrolled in the randomized study HD94. After four courses of ABVD regimen, patients who achieved complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR) were randomly assigned to the IF or EF arm. The Kaplan-Meier method was adopted to estimate overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 78 months (range 13-111 months), OS was 98% and 96%, respectively, in the EF and IF arms; RFS was 94% and 91%, respectively, in the EF and IF arms.

CONCLUSION

We confirm the efficacy of four cycles of ABVD regimen, with suitable dose intensity, and radiotherapy as consolidation therapy, in intermediate stage Hodgkin's disease patients (CR = 99.5% and OS = 95%). We also found that involved field radiotherapy results were as effective as extended field, without acute toxicity.

VEPEMB in elderly Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients. Results from an Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi (IIL) study

BACKGROUND

In advanced age the prognosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is poor, but, as a consequence of the low incidence of HL in the elderly, prospective studies are lacking and the best treatment strategy is difficult to define.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One-hundred and five HL patients over 65 years of age were treated homogeneously with an original reduced-intensity regimen designed for HL in the elderly containing vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, etoposide, mitoxantrone and bleomycin (VEPEMB). Forty-eight early stage (IA-IIA) patients received three courses of VEPEMB followed by involved field irradiation. Fifty-seven advanced stage (IIB-IV) patients received six courses followed by radiotherapy limited to the areas of bulky disease.

RESULTS

Mean age was 71 years (range 66-83). Co-morbidities were present in 39 patients (37%). A treatment plan modification for poor tolerance or toxicity was needed in 18 patients. Results were satisfactory, even if they were better in early rather than in advanced stage disease: complete response rate 98% versus 58% (P <0.01); 5-year failure-free survival 79% versus 34% (P <0.01). The results were affected by advanced stage, systemic symptoms and co-morbidity but they were not influenced by age itself.

CONCLUSIONS

VEPEMB is an effective and low toxic regimen for HL in the elderly. Co-morbidity is a prognostic factor more important than age itself.

Testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease: evaluation of semen quality

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to establish whether there is a difference in semen quality between patients with testicular cancer (TC) and Hodgkin's disease (HD).

METHODS

We evaluated 342 patients affected by TC (n = 232) or HD (n = 110) who cryobanked sperm before initiating chemo- or radiotherapy. All TC patients were evaluated approximately 1 month after orchidectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 14 patients were azoospermic or cryptozoospermic. In the TC group (n = 222) the mean of the semen parameters was normal according to the World Health Organization (1992). However, dividing the cases into total sperm count > or =40x10(6)/ejaculate and <40x10(6)/ejaculate, 35.5% of the patients showed an impaired semen quality. The quality of sperm parameters was higher in seminoma patients than for the other histological groups. A significant difference for all semen variables was observed between patients with serum betahCG levels classified as pathological (>5 mIU/ml) and those with normal serum betahCG. Comparison of semen parameters between TC stages I and II showed no significant differences. In the HD group (n = 106), we found that by and large they showed normal spermatogenesis, with only 24.5% having a total sperm count <40x10(6)/ejaculate. There was a significant decrease in semen quality in stages III and IV of HD.

CONCLUSIONS

Better semen quality was observed in patients with HD than in those with TC. The semen quality observed in our TC and HD groups seems better than previous results reported in the literature.

Hodgkin's disease of the nasopharynx: diagnostic and therapeutic approach with a review of the literature

The lymphoid tissues of Waldeyer's ring, including the nasopharynx, are rarely involved in Hodgkin's disease (HD). Between March 1977 and July 2001, about 2150 patients affected by HD were observed in our institute; 7 of them (0.32%), all male patients, had HD of the nasopharynx. They had no symptoms and blood tests were normal. All patients were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and achieved complete remission. At a median follow-up of 72 months, they are alive and in continuous complete remission. We conclude that Hodgkin's disease of the nasopharynx is a rare and predominantly male disease with a particularly favorable prognosis. Bone marrow biopsy could be avoided. We believe that two to four cycles of a chemotherapeutic regimen and involved field radiotherapy at an intermediate-high dosage (25-30 Gy) could be the first line treatment for these patients.

Dose intensification with autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed and resistant Hodgkin's disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patients affected by Hodgkin's disease (HD) resistant to induction therapy or who have a brief duration of first remission have a poor outcome.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 28 patients affected by Hodgkin's disease who relapsed 6 to 24 months from completion of treatment (14 patients) or who were refractory to first-line therapy or relapsed very early (14 patients). All the 28 patients were treated with salvage chemotherapy plus a conditioning regimen followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBCST) or autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT).

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 35.5 months (range 14-119), of the 14 patients responding to first-line therapy but who relapsed > 6 months off therapy, 10 (72%) are alive, well and in complete remission (CR), 2 (14%) are alive with disease at 39 and 83 months from transplant, and 2 (14%) died 26 and 63 months after their transplant from acute myeloid leukemia and HD, respectively. At a median follow-up of 39 months, the overall survival (OS) is 68% and the event-free survival (EFS) is 56%. At a median follow-up of 30 months (1-98), of the 14 patients refractory to first-line therapy or who relapsed very early, 9 (64%) are alive in CR, 1 (7%) is alive with disease and 4 (29%) have died of their disease (3 patients) or myelodysplastic syndrome (1 patient). The OS is 58% and the EFS is 52%. There are no statistically significant differences in terms of OS and EFS between the two groups of patients.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that salvage chemotherapy followed by a conditioning regimen and autotransplant is an effective, feasible and well-tolerated scheme of therapy not only for patients with HD who relapse after first-line treatment, but also for those resistant to first-line treatment.

Technetium-99m Tetrofosmin Imaging in Malignant Lymphomas

Aim

To assess the utility of 99mTc tetrofosmin (TF) scintigraphy as a diagnostic modality in lymphomas.

Methods

Seventeen patients (14 with Hodgkin's disease and three with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; age range, 10-59 years) were investigated. Planar and SPECT images of the supradiaphragmatic region (including neck and chest) were obtained. All patients were untreated at the time of the first scintigraphy. Follow-up scans after therapy were acquired in six patients (in five twice), so a total of 28 scintigraphic studies were performed. Mediastinal, pulmonary, cervical, supraclavicular and axillary activity was evaluated and results were compared in a blinded fashion with those of CT.

Results

TF imaging demonstrated pathological focal uptake at 38 sites (16 in the mediastinum, eight in the lungs, four in the axillae, eight in the supraclavicular region and two in the cervical region) in 16 of 17 untreated patients; CT identified 24 lesions (16 in the mediastinum, two in the lungs, two in the axillae, two in the supraclavicular and two in the cervical region) in 17 patients. Scintigraphy detected 22 of the 24 lesions demonstrated by CT and revealed 16 unknown tumor sites in 10 patients. The only negative pre-treatment scintigraphy result was found in a patient with axillary lymph node involvement. On the first post-treatment scintigrams there was a reduction in the number of visualized pathological sites (seven vs 16) in five of the six patients examined. The second follow-up study demonstrated only two lesions in two of the five patients examined.

Conclusions

Our preliminary results indicate that TF imaging is effective in depicting supradiaphragmatic lymphoma lesions in untreated patients and suggest that serial scintigraphic studies may be suitable for monitoring response to treatment. However, larger series are needed to better define the possible role of TF scintigraphy in the follow-up of the response to therapy.

Rapidly alternating COPP/ABV/IMEP is not superior to conventional alternating COPP/ABVD in combination with extended-field radiotherapy in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma: final results of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group Trial HD5

PURPOSE

To investigate whether treatment results in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma can be improved by rapid application of non-cross-resistant drugs, the 10-drug regimen cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (COPP), doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vinblastine (ABV), and ifosfamide, methotrexate, etoposide, and prednisone (IMEP), repeated every 6 weeks, was compared with conventional alternating COPP/doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) administered every 8 weeks.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1988 to January 1993, 996 patients in stage I or II Hodgkin's lymphoma with at least one risk factor (massive mediastinal tumor, massive spleen involvement, extranodal disease, elevated ESR, or more than two lymph node areas involved) and all patients in stage IIIA Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomized to receive two cycles of COPP/ABVD or COPP/ABV/IMEP followed by extended-field radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Both regimens produced similar rates for treatment responses (complete remission, 93% v 94%), freedom from treatment failure (80% v 79%), and overall survival (88% for both regimens) at a median follow-up time of 7 years. Most serious toxicities during chemotherapy were similar in both regimens. However, World Health Organization grade 3 and 4 leukocytopenia occurred significantly more frequently in the COPP/ABV/IMEP arm (53% v 44% of patients; P =.010). There were no differences in the number of serious infections and toxic deaths during therapy. The number of second malignancies was also the same in both arms (22 each).

CONCLUSION

Alternating COPP/ABVD and rapid alternating COPP/ABV/IMEP in combination with extended-field radiotherapy are equally effective in intermediate-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma and produce excellent long-term treatment results.

Successful pregnancies following an egg donation program in women with previously treated Hodgkin's disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In order to draw attention not only to patients affected by a neoplasia, but also to those who may have problems of sterility, we describe six women affected by Hodgkin's disease who had precocious menopause due to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy but who were safely delivered of children. These pregnancies were achieved through oocyte donation, in vitro fertilization and intrauterine embryo transfer or oocyte intracytoplasmic insemination.

DESIGN AND METHODS

During natural or iatrogenic menopause, the uterus preserves its capacity to respond to steroidal hormones and to permit implantation and development of an embryo. Our study concerns six young females with iatrogenic menopause caused by treatment of Hodgkin's disease who carried a pregnancy to term. The pregnancies were achieved by oocyte donation, in vitro fertilization and intrauterine embryo transfer or oocyte intracytoplasmic insemination. Endometrial maturation was obtained by administration of estradiol and progesterone. Steroidal therapy was administered until the 13th-14th week in relation to placental function.

RESULTS

Five of the 6 females underwent Caesarean section because of a twin birth or complications during the third trimester of pregnancy (gestosis). All the delivered children are, to date, well; their median age is 4 years.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the possibility of women treated for Hodgkin's disease being able to carry a pregnancy safely to term with the help of steroidal therapy. Careful clinical and obstetric surveillance is important. Focusing attention on long-term survivors of Hodgkin's disease, we set the goal of improving the quality of life of these patients, considering their psychophysical well-being as a whole. Greater attention to the problems of safeguarding fertility in these patients would be advisable, also in the light of legislative regulation of medical care techniques in various countries.

Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells and Hodgkin's disease in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: an immunohistological, molecular and clinical study of four cases suggesting a heterogeneous pathogenetic background

We report the immunohistological, molecular and clinical findings in four patients affected by B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who developed "Richter's syndrome with Hodgkin's disease (HD) features" or "CLL with Hodgkin's transformation", all characterised by the presence of typical Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (H/RS) cells in lymph node biopsies. In three cases the nodal involvement by CLL was demonstrated both by the presence of a predominant background of CD5/CD19/CD23+ small lymphocytes and an IgH monoclonal rearrangement revealed by PCR analysis. Conversely, in the remaining case there was neither immunohistological nor molecular evidence of lymph node involvement by CLL. In all four cases H/RS cells were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein (LMP-1) positive. These findings suggest that the presence of H/RS cells in the first three patients, who had CLL/HD nodal involvement, might be related to transformation or clonal evolution of CLL cells in H/RS cells, which is in keeping with use of the term "CLL with Hodgkin's transformation". In the fourth case a de novo HD may be postulated, representing a second malignancy presumably not clonally related to CLL. In all cases a key pathogenetic role of EBV is suggested by the expression of LMP-1 in H/RS cells. Our findings indicate that the presence of typical H/RS cells in lymph node biopsies in CLL patients may reflect a heterogeneous pathogenetic background. The different clinico-pathologic settings should be taken into consideration because of their possible implications for patients' treatment and prognosis.

Conventional salvage chemotherapy vs. high-dose therapy with autografting for recurrent or refractory Hodgkin's disease patients

Despite progress that has been made in curing Hodgkin's disease (HD), patients whose first remission is brief and those resistant to first-line chemotherapy still have a poor outcome. We retrospectively reviewed data from 29 patients with HD in first relapse or refractory to first-line chemotherapy. Following failure, all patients received three cycles of ifosfomide, epirubicin, and etoposide (IEV); moreover, 11 patients received a conditioning regimen followed by autografting. Of the 18 patients treated with IEV, eight (44%) are alive; nine died of disease progression, and one died of hematologic toxicity. The 24-month overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and event-free survival (EFS) are 18%, 44%, and 22%, respectively. Of the 11 patients treated with IEV and autografting, ten are alive (90%) and one patient died of progressive disease. The 29-month OS, RFS, and EFS are 91%, 71%, and 56%, respectively. Our results confirm data showing that patients with relapsed or resistant HD achieve a significantly better OS and EFS if treated with high-dose therapy and autografting.

Relapse and late complications in early-stage Hodgkin's disease patients with mediastinal involvement treated with radiotherapy alone or plus one cycle of ABVD

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Patients affected by Hodgkin's disease (HD) in pathologic stage IA-IIA have a strong possibility of remission and long-term survival when treated with radiotherapy to extended fields. However, 20-30% of cases relapse in the five years following treatment and consequently need further therapy. This study examines the occurrence of relapse and other complications in patients with pathologic stage IIA Hodgkin's disease and mediastinal involvement treated in different ways: radiotherapy alone vs radiotherapy plus one cycle of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Our series consisted of 73 HD patients with mediastinal involvement treated by the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Hematology Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome from 1983 to 1989. The patients were randomized into two groups according to their initial treatment. The first group contained 37 patients treated, initially, with supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy and para-aortic irradiation (STNI); the second group was made up of 36 patients treated, initially, with supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy and para-aortic irradiation (STNI) combined with one course of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). For 28 (38%) of the patients, the follow-up period was longer than 10 years. The average follow-up period was 114 months (range 22-174 months). Overall survival and relapse-free survival were assessed using the Kaplan and Meier method, while differences were tested by the log-rank test.

RESULTS

We recorded twelve cases of relapse after initial treatment. The period of time which elapsed between the end of treatment and the evidence of relapse ranged from 6 to 51 months, with an average of 22 months. Ten relapses occurred in the STNI group and two in the ABVD/STNI group. No statistically significant differences emerged between the two groups in the overall survival analysis but did in the relapse-free survival analysis (p<0.01). In the group treated with ABVD and STNI one patient developed acute non-lymphocytic leukemia and another patient treated at the age of 44 developed primary breast cancer. X-ray-related asymptomatic pulmonary fibrosis was observed in 12 patients: 10 cases in the STNI and ABVD group and 2 cases in the group treated with RT alone. The other sequelae of combined CT/RT treatment in our study were thyroid dysfunction (2 cases, hypothyroidism), whereas the sequela of RT treatment was cardiac disease (2 cases).

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that one cycle of ABVD and radiotherapy in early-stage HD patients with mediastinal involvement may reduce the risk of relapse. Moreover, the combination of low-toxicity CT and RT, administered preferably to limited fields, in patients who have not undergone laparotomy could be a valid alternative to current treatment for early-stage HD. However, additional data and a longer follow-up are mandatory in order to evaluate late toxicity and the potential risk of treatment.

Long-term results of 60 patients with pathologic stage I & IIA Hodgkin's disease treated with exclusive mantle radiation therapy

Between January 1972 and December 1982 60 patients with pathological stage IA and IIA Hodgkin's disease (HD) were submitted to Mantle irradiation only. Twenty-five were in stage I (32.1%) and 35 in stage II (67.9%). All patients were submitted to staging laparotomy. Cases with large mediastinal mass were excluded from this series. Delivered doses were 44 Gy in involved areas, 40 Gy on the mediastinum and 36 Gy on uninvolved sites. Twenty-four patients in stage I (96%) and 33 in stage II (94.2%) obtained complete remission. Actuarial 10- and 20-yr overall (OS) rates were 86% and 79.1%, respectively. Event-free (EFS) and relapse-free (RFS) survival rates at 10 and 20 yr were 67.5% and 62.1%, respectively. The occurrence of disease relapse resulted in the only statistical significant prognostic factor for OS in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Distant and extranodal recurrences were significantly (P<0.01) related to a reduced OS. On multivariate analysis stage was the only determinant factor for increased RFS. Extended field RT proved to be an effective curative modality for stage I HD patients, whereas 15 out of 33 patients in stage II relapsed requiring salvage therapy. Long-term analysis of survival and treatment-related morbidity rates will improve our knowledge and assist the physicians to choose the therapeutic option to offer to HD patients.

Hodgkin's disease during pregnancy: diagnostic and therapeutic management

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the possibility that women affected by Hodgkin's disease (HD) during their second or third trimester of pregnancy can safely carry their pregnancy to term.

METHODS

From 1986 to 1997, 6 women came to our Center during the second trimester of pregnancy and were diagnosed as having HD. Three of these 6 patients were treated with chemotherapy before delivery and 3 of them were kept under observation and started treatment after delivery.

RESULTS

All 6 women gave birth to a healthy female.

CONCLUSIONS

The pregnancy does not worsen the course of the illness and does not compromise long-term clinical remission and recovery.

The risk of acute leukemia in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease is significantly higher aft [see bined modality programs than after chemotherapy alone and is correlated with the extent of radiotherapy and type and duration of chemotherapy: a case-control study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Patients treated for Hodgkin's disease have an increased risk of developing subsequent acute leukemia. This co-operative study was conducted to assess the relative risk associated with several candidate factors including age, splenectomy, combined modality therapy and cumulative drug dose including alkylating agents and nitrosurea derivatives.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study evaluated the risk of acute leukemia according to pretreatment variables and therapy modalities among 1659 patients treated for Hodgkin's disease and followed for a median time of 10 years. Both case-control and actuarial risk studies were performed. Median age was 34 years (range: 12-83); 53% of patients were splenectomized. As to the overall therapy, 348 patients (21%) were given radiotherapy (RT) alone, 375 (23%) chemotherapy (CT) alone (including MOPP, MOPP + ABVD or MOPP + ABVD + lomustine); 936 (56%) received both CT and RT, either as primary or salvage treatment.

RESULTS

The overall 15-year actuarial risk of leukemia was 4.2%; the hazard function curve showed two peaks of risk at the 3th and the 8th year from the initiation of therapy and no leukemia beyond the 12th year of follow-up. Risk of leukemia was 0.3% after RT alone, 2.8% after CT alone (2.2% after MOPP; 4.4% after MOPP + ABVD + lomustine), and 5.4% in patients given combined modality therapy (10.2% for RT + MOPP; 15.6% for RT + MOPP + lomustine). No leukemia occurred after ABVD alone and the risk was low (0.6%) when neither mechlorethamine nor lomustine were utilized. Patients who had received extended radiotherapy including abdomen and pelvis in addition to MOPP showed a significantly higher risk of leukemia compared to those given limited RT + MOPP (P = 0.01). Case-control analysis indicated advanced stage, type and duration (> 8 months) of CT and extension of RT as significant risk factors for leukemia. Compared to RT alone, the odds ratio was 5.9 after MOPP + extended RT, and 8 when a lomustine-containing regimen was used, as well. Neither age nor splenectomy were independent risk factors for leukemia; splenectomy was influential only when patients had been given MOPP chemotherapy, as well.

INTERPRETATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

Both case-control and actuarial analyses indicated that: a) combined modality therapy with MOPP and extensive RT (including abdomen and pelvis), and the use of lomustine added to the leukemogenic risk of MOPP alone; b) programs without mechlorethamine, procarbazine and lomustine were almost devoid of leukemogenic risk.

Avascular osteonecrosis in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease

The aim of this study is to assess the risk of avascular osteonecrosis (AVN) of the femoral head in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD), in relation to the type of treatment they have received. For this purpose, a cohort of 1391 patients treated for HD at University of Rome between 1972 and 1996 was divided into 2 groups according to their initial treatment. The first group contained 784 patients treated, at the onset of HD, either with chemotherapy (CT) containing steroids, combined in some cases with subdiaphragmatic radiotherapy (RT), or with subdiaphragmatic RT combined with CT without steroids. The second group was made up of 607 patients who had received, initially, supradiaphragmatic RT alone or supradiaphragmatic RT combined with CT without steroids. For the purpose of this study, only the 784 patients belonging to the first group were observed for the appearance of AVN, which occurred in 9 cases. The period of time which elapsed between the end of treatment and the radiological evidence of AVN ranged from 23 to 97 months, with an average of 35 months. Because the number of cases of AVN was so small, the pathogenesis of this complication could not be identified.

Combined modality therapy in advanced Hodgkin's disease: a report on 218 patients with a median follow-up of eight years

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of monthly alternating ABVD/MOPP compared to ABVD/OPP regimens in patients with advanced stage Hodgkin's disease (HD), as well as in early stage patients with systemic symptoms and/or bulky disease.

DESIGN AND METHODS

218 patients with previously untreated HD entered this study: 106 patients in arm A (ABVD/MOPP) and 112 in arm B (ABVD/OPP). Patients received eight courses of one of the two regimens after stratification according to the stage. Patients in complete remission (CR) received 20 Gy to the involved field and 40 Gy to the spleen. The actuarial survival curves were performed according to Kaplan and Meier.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed between the two arms in terms of CR rate and toxicity. However, analysis of total relapses revealed that patients treated with ABVD/OPP had a significantly higher likelihood of achieving a second CR compared to patients who entered the ABVD/MOPP arm.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

Both schemes of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy produce high percentages of CR, low risk of relapse and an acceptable toxicity.

The risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after Hodgkin's disease, with special reference to splenic treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

One of the consequences of the enormous improvement in survival rates of patients treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD) is the emergence in the long term of treatment-related complications, particularly secondary cancers. This study was undertaken to observe the occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in patients treated for HD and to identify the etiological role of various risk factors, especially spleen irradiation, in the pathogenesis of this illness.

DESIGN AND METHODS

From 1972 to 1996, the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Hematology Section of "La Sapienza" University of Rome observed and analyzed the occurrence of NHL in 1,391 patients treated for HD. The average follow-up period was 84 months. For a more accurate calculation of the risk of the occurrence of NHL, the patients were first divided into 3 groups according to their initial treatment and also according to the total treatment they had received. Then, in order to establish the possible connection between NHL and splenic treatment the patients were also divided into 3 subgroups according to whether they had undergone splenectomy, splenic irradiation or neither of these. Two different methods of statistical analysis were used: (a) the cumulative risk (confidence interval) was evaluated in relation to treatment (initial and at the time of salvage) and (b) the Cox model was applied to identify the variables which play a role in the appearance of NHL. The cumulative risk of developing NHL was assessed using the Kaplan and Meier method. A multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model.

RESULTS

A total of 20 cases of NHL were observed, appearing between 17 and 206 months after initial treatment. The cumulative risk was 0.8%, 1.8%, 2.6% and 3.5% at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, significant risk factors were splenic irradiation and age (> 40 years). Splenic irradiation (vs no splenectomy/no splenic irradiation) showed a relative risk of 5.69, p = 0.0280, while age over 40 showed a relative risk of 3.05, p = 0.0152.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

From the results of this study, if appears that there is a possibility that splenic irradiation and age over 40 increase the risk of NHL in HD patients. Further studies are needed to investigate in greater depth the role of spleen irradiation in the occurrence of this illness.

Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: onset after treatment for Hodgkin's disease

This study was undertaken to examine the influence of various factors on the occurrence of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) in a group of longterm survivors of Hodgkin's disease (HD). From 1972 to 1992, 1045 patients with HD were assessed and treated at the Department of Radiation Oncology, the Institute of Radiology, and the Department of Human Biopathology, Hematology Section, University of Rome "La Sapienza". The average follow-up was 72 months. For a more accurate calculation of the risk of ANLL occurrence, the patients were first divided into three subgroups according to initial treatment and then according to the total treatment they had received. Moreover, to establish the probable connection between leukemia and splenic treatment the patients were also divided into three subgroups (splenectomy, splenic irradiation, and no splenectomy/no splenic irradiation). Sixteen cases of ANLL were recorded, giving an overall risk of 0.2% at 5 years and 3.4% at 20 years. In 12 patients overt leukemia was preceded by a myelodys-plastic syndrome. Five cases had evaluable chromosome analysis. Clonal chromosome abnormalities were demonstrated in two patients, whereas three patients showed an apparently normal karyotype. Bone marrow agar cultures were analyzed in two patients and were abnormal in both cases. In the radiotherapy (RT) group, the cumulative risk was 0.4% at 10 years and 3.2% at 15 and 20 years: in the chemotherapy (CT) group it was 1.2% at 10, 15, and 20 years; in the combined group it was 3.7% at 10 years and 4.9% at 15 and 20 years. In the multivariate analysis, MOPP treatment with or without RT is a statistically significant variable for ANLL occurrence (p = 0.009). This study demonstrates that splenic treatment does not lead to ANLL. Treatment with MOPP alone and with MOPP plus RT can increase the risk of ANLL.

Analysis of the risk of solid tumor following Hodgkin's disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This study examines the occurrence of solid tumor (ST) in relation to the different types of therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy; splenectomy or splenic irradiation vs no splenectomy-no splenic irradiation) received by patients treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD).

METHODS

The study included 1,045 HD patients treated at the Department of Radiation Oncology, the Institute of Radiology and the Department of Human Biopathology, Hematology Section, University of Rome, "La Sapienza", from 1972 to 1992. For 23% of the patients the follow-up period was longer than 10 years. The average follow-up period was 72 months. For a more accurate calculation of the risk of ST occurrence, the patients were first divided into 3 subgroups according to initial treatment and then according to the total treatment they had received. Moreover, to establish a probable connection between solid tumor and splenic treatment the patients were also divided into 3 subgroups (splenectomy, splenic irradiation and no splenectomy/no splenic irradiation).

RESULTS

We recorded twenty-four cases of ST after initial treatment. Secondary solid tumor showed a cumulative risk of 0.2% and 13.4% at 5 and 20 years, respectively. After initial treatment with radiotherapy (RT) alone, the cumulative risk was 1.7% and 5.2% at 10 and 20 years, respectively; in the chemotherapy (CT) group, it was 2.4% and 18.1%; in the CT(+)RT group, it was 1.7% and 9%. No statistically significant differences were observed among the different types of treatment (splenectomy, splenic irradiation or no splenectomy/no splenic irradiation) as regards the occurrence of ST. According to multivariate analysis, the most important factor in the risk of ST was age (> 40). Relative risk was 5.2, p = 0.0001.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that an age of over 40 at diagnosis and treatment with CT alone greatly increase the risk of solid tumor occurrence.

Meningeal localization in a patient with Hodgkin's disease. Description of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a 21-year-old man in whom intracranial localization was discovered during initial staging at the onset of Hodgkin's disease (HD). The patient was treated by surgical excision, irradiation and chemotherapy and 50 months after completion of therapy is in remission with no evidence of HD. A brief review of the literature regarding 48 patients with intracranial Hodgkin's disease is presented.

Luteinizing hormone pulsatility and computer-assisted analysis of sperm features in patients with Hodgkin's disease

The aim of this work was to characterize further the impairment of the reproductive function reported in untreated male patients with Hodgkin's disease. We evaluated the pattern of luteinizing hormone pulsatility and unconventional sperm features by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) in 20 adult patients affected by biopsy-proven Hodgkin's disease before they were submitted to any therapeutic approach. Changes of luteinizing hormone pulsatility were documented and consisted mainly in an increase in pulse number in comparison with control subjects (P < 0.05). On CASA, 1/3 of the patients showed a reduction in the sperm number but, when motility, velocity and linearity of progression were evaluated, the number of patients with seminal alterations rose to 2/3. Sperm velocity and linearity were already impaired in stages I and II, whereas sperm number was reduced only in stage III. Symptomatic patients, regardless of the stage, showed a significant deterioration of all parameters. Our study supports the view that in Hodgkin's disease, before any treatment, a disorder of the reproductive system is present, both at hypothalamic/hypophysial and the gonadal level, having a pathogenesis that deserves to be elucidated by further study.

Long-term results of treatment of childhood and adolescent Hodgkin's disease in 73 patients: the experience of the Departments of Radiology and Hematology of the University of Rome "La Sapienza"

PURPOSE

Various experiences show no substantial differences between children and adults in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. In consideration of some peculiar characteristics of these cases which might influence the therapeutical choice, particularly regarding long-term survival and therapeutical complications, we report the results of a series of 73 children and adolescents with Hodgkin's disease treated at the University of Rome "La Sapienza".

METHODS

Between 1976 and 1983, 73 untreated pediatric cases of stage I-IV Hodgkin's disease were treated with radiotherapy, alone or associated with chemotherapy, using high doses and extended fields.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients (77%) were in continuous complete remission in April 1995 and seventeen (23%) had died.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors confirm the excellent results in the treatment of pediatric Hodgkin's disease, both in terms of overall and relapse free survival, in spite of a high incidence of complications caused by the aggressive treatment used in this series. Therefore the majority of authors suggest combined alternating low-dose radiation administered with small portals and short-term chemotherapy. These procedures provide optimal results together with a significant reduction of complications. Consequently, it is very important to evaluate all patient characteristics accurately in order to tailor optimal treatment and select cases with risk factors which might be undertreated and therefore undergo a higher risk of recurrence.

[Assessment of residual mediastinal tumor in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma using computed tomography, magnetic resonance and 67Ga scintigraphy]

594 patients with Hodgkin's disease were treated from 1983 to 1993 at the Department of Radiotherapy and Institute of Hematology, "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy. 385 patients presented mediastinal involvement; CT and/or chest radiography showed residual mediastinal masses in 96 of them (25%). In this study we included only the patients treated after 1986; they were examined with MRI of the chest (24 patients) and 67Gallium scintigraphy of the mediastinum (44 patients) with or without SPECT, combined with high-dose 67Ga in some cases. Eighteen patients underwent both MRI and 67Gallium scintigraphy. MR accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were respectively 75%, 86% and 86%; gallium scintigraphy had 86%, 77% and 93%. These data were confirmed by the results fo the subgroup of 18 patients submitted to both exams; MRI had higher sensitivity (80% vs. 75%) and lower specificity and accuracy (83% vs. 80% and 72% vs. 67, respectively) than 67Gallium scintigraphy. The predictive value of MR-scintigraphy agreement is high: indeed, no false negatives or false positives were observed when MR and scintigraphy results were in agreement.

[Hodgkin's disease in stages I and IIA. Analysis of results in a group of patients with a follow-up of at least 10 years treated at the onset of the disease with radiotherapy alone]

January, 1972, through December, 1982, ninety-four patients with Hodgkin's disease in stages I and IIA were treated in the Dept. of Radiation Oncology of the University "La Sapienza", Rome. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 10 years. After careful clinical and surgical examinations comprehensive of laparosplenectomy, all patients were submitted to extended field radiation treatment. Ninety-one of 94 patients (97%) obtained complete remission. Overall survival at 10 years was 91% and independent of stage (94% in stage I and 87% in stage II), while relapse-free survival at 10 years did depend on stage (83% in stage I and 49% in stage II); the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Thirty-one of 94 patients relapsed, but fortunately 94% of them obtained a second complete remission after salvage chemotherapy. Our experience confirms the low tumorigenic potential of exclusive radiation therapy; only one of 4 secondary neoplasms (acute non-lymphatic leukemia) observed in this series had been treated with radiotherapy. The results of this study confirm the efficacy of exclusive irradiation in stage I patients, while treatment approach remains debated in stage II patients. The combination of short-time chemotherapy with curative irradiation is probably the best option to reduce both the incidence of recurrences and treatment-induced complications.

Peripheral neuroectodermal tumor of the chest (Askin tumor) as secondary neoplasm after Hodgkin's disease: a case report

The authors present the case of a 20-year-old woman who developed a peripheral neuroectodermal neoplasm of the thoracopulmonary region (Askin tumor) 7 years after achieving complete remission of stage-IV Hodgkin's disease. The previous treatment had consisted of eight courses of alternating MOPP/ABVD combined with involved-field 20-Gy radiotherapy. The second neoplasm appeared in a nonirradiated area of the chest wall, with erosion of the ribs as shown by sonography and computed tomography. The histological pattern was in accordance with a generic diagnosis of a malignant small cell tumor; the immunostaining positivity of the neoplastic cells for the neuron-specific enolase allowed us to make the diagnosis of a tumor with a neuroectodermal origin. Partial resection of the neoplasm and four courses of chemotherapy including adriamycin, cisplatin, and ifosfamide induced a complete remission, confirmed by surgical restaging. She is alive and well 10 months after the completion of therapy. The clinical, radiological, and microscopic features of this tumor occurring as a secondary neoplasm after Hodgkin's disease are described.

Combined modality (ABVD plus radiotherapy) versus radiotherapy in the management of early stage (IIA) Hodgkin's disease with mediastinal involvement

The aim of this study was to establish whether combined modality treatment (ABVD plus radiotherapy) can reduce the risk of relapse in Hodgkin's disease patients with mediastinal involvement, as compared to radiotherapy alone. The results obtained suggest that one course of ABVD before irradiation can reduce the incidence of relapse. These findings, however, should be considered preliminary and need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Extended-field radiotherapy is superior to MOPP chemotherapy for the treatment of pathologic stage I-IIA Hodgkin's disease: eight-year update of an Italian prospective randomized study

PURPOSE

To compare the effectiveness of chemotherapy (CHT) with extended-field radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of early-stage Hodgkin's disease (ESHD), we report an 8-year updated analysis of a study in which treatment with six cycles of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) CHT was randomly compared with extended-field RT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From August 1979 to December 1982, 89 adult patients with pathologic stage I-IIA Hodgkin's disease (HD) were randomly allocated to receive either RT with mantle field followed by periaortic irradiation (n = 45) or six monthly courses of MOPP CHT (n = 44).

RESULTS

All patients in the RT arm and 40 of 44 in the CHT arm achieved complete remission. Twelve relapses occurred in each group. Eight patients treated with MOPP and two of the RT arm died of HD. Three other patients of the CHT group died because of a second cancer. With a median follow-up greater than 8 years, the overall survival rate is significantly higher in the RT than in the CHT group (93% v 56%; P less than .001), whereas the rates of freedom from progression and relapse-free survival (RFS) were similar in the two groups (76% v 64% and 70% v 71%, respectively). Of the 12 patients relapsing after RT, 11 (92%) achieved a second CR, compared with only six of the 12 (50%) in the MOPP group. Analysis of the response rate to salvage treatments showed that the type of relapse in the MOPP group was a prognostic indicator for the achievement of a second CR, whereas in the RT group, a second CR was obtained regardless of the characteristics of the relapses. At 80 months, the probability of survival of relapsing patients calculated from time of relapse was 85% and 15% in the RT and CHT groups, respectively (P = .02).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that RT alone is the treatment of choice for adult patients with ESHD with favorable prognostic factors.

Recurrence of Hodgkin's disease after 10 years: observation of 5 cases

Five patients whose Hodgkin's disease recurred 10 years or more after the achievement of complete remission are reported. Four out of 5 patients had shown an advanced stage at the onset of disease and therefore had received combination chemotherapy (ABVD or MOPP-like) as primary treatment. Involved-field irradiation was delivered as consolidation therapy in 1 patient only. All pathologically proven relapses occurred in a previously affected area and the histologic subtype differed from the primary subtype. The time interval between the achievement of the first complete remission and the relapse was 120, 170 and 190 months in 3, 1, and 1 patient, respectively. All 5 patients are alive in second complete remission. This paper emphasizes the risk of late relapse even after a prolonged disease-free interval for patients with Hodgkin's disease. Close follow-up is therefore recommended also in this clinical setting.

[Evolution of the diagnostic accuracy of CT in clinical staging of patients with Hodgkin's disease]

From 1983 through 1989, 141 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease underwent CT of the abdomen. They subsequently underwent staging laparotomy plus splenectomy and multiple biopsies of liver and lymph nodes, at the Institute of Radiology and Hematology, University "La Sapienza", Rome. CT results were compared with surgical findings to evaluate CT sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy. The cases from this series were divided into two groups depending on the characteristics of the CT scanners employed. From 1983 to 1985, 78 patients were examined with 2nd-generation CT units; from 1986 to 1989, 63 patients underwent CT performed with 3rd-generation scanners. The results from the two groups were analyzed according to these parameters. A total number of 622 biopsies were performed, of spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. CT sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were: 22.9% (group I) vs 43.7% (group II), 83.1% vs 92%, and 68.4% vs 81.2% for lymph nodes; 28.1% vs 36.3%, 93.5% vs 98%, and 66.7% vs 87.3% for the spleen, and 12.5% vs 42.8%, 97.1% vs 98.2%, and 88.5% vs 92.1% for the liver. Our results demonstrate an obvious increase in reliability with newer units, even though a high percentage of false-negatives were still observed in our series, which caused understaging in 19.4% of cases vs 24.4% in group I.

Surgical approach to isolated mediastinal lymphoma

With the aim of assessing the role of surgery in the management of isolated mediastinal lymphoma, we have reviewed the data of 123 operations performed on 102 patients (64 with Hodgkin's disease and 38 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). One death and four major complications occurred in these patients. Macroscopically radical resection was performed in 14 patients who are free of disease after 1 to 14 years. Debulking resection was performed in five patients: Three are alive after 5 to 11 years and two died after 36 and 40 months. Ten patients (seven with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and three with Hodgkin's disease) had residual mediastinal masses of more than 2 cm after chemotherapy; to assess the nature of the lesion (fibrosis or residual disease), we subjected these patients to surgical restaging of the mediastinum: Results were negative in seven and positive in three. We conclude that open biopsy is indispensable to obtain good tissue specimens suitable for histologic and immunohistochemical assessment. Biopsy must be performed as a major surgical procedure to avoid reoperation: Mediastinoscopy and sternal splitting incisions proved the most reliable approaches. Locally radical or debulking resection might be considered in selected cases to enhance long-term results.

Risk of infertility in patients with Hodgkin's disease treated with ABVD vs MOPP vs ABVD/MOPP

The gonadal function of 38 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) treated with MOPP chemotherapy (12 patients), ABVD (9 patients) and alternating MOPP/ABVD (17 patients) has been retrospectively investigated with semen analysis. Median age of patients was 25 years (range 16-41 years). Azoospermia was found in all patients from the MOPP group (100%), in 3 of the ABVD group (33%) and in 13 of the MOPP/ABVD group (76%). After temporary oligospermia full recovery of spermatogenesis was observed in 67% of patients treated with ABVD, versus 25% of MOPP-treated patients following a prolonged period of azoospermia and oligospermia. Patients receiving MOPP/ABVD scheme had complete recovery of testicular function after oligospermia in 24% of cases. These results confirm the higher gonadal toxicity of the MOPP regimen as compared to others such as ABVD without alkylating agents.

MOPP chemotherapy versus extended-field radiotherapy in the management of pathological stages I-IIA Hodgkin's disease

In order to assess whether mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) chemotherapy (CT), which is less expensive and more easily available than radiotherapy (RT), is at least as effective as RT in terms of cure rate and has less iatrogenic damage, 89 consecutive patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) (pathological stage I-IIA) were randomly allocated to receive mantle plus lumbar bar RT (36-45 Gy) or CT (six courses of MOPP). Forty-five patients were entered in the RT group and 44 in the CT group. The median follow-up was 60 months. Complete remission (CR) was obtained in all patients in the RT group and in 40 of 44 patients in the CT group. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were, respectively, 87.2% and 72.7% in the CT group and 93.5% and 74% in the RT group. Survival probability of relapsing patients was 76% for the patients in the RT group and 45% in the CT group. Treatment-related complications were more severe in the CT group as compared with the RT group.

Third-line chemotherapy with CAVP (CCNU, melphalan, etoposide and prednisone) in refractory Hodgkin's disease

Thirty-one patients affected by recurrent Hodgkin's disease have been treated with an oral combination chemotherapy including lomustine (CCNU 90 mg/sqm, on day 1), melphalan (Alkeran, 7.5 mg/sqm on days 1-5), etoposide (VP-16, 100 mg/sqm on days 6-10) and prednisone (40 mg/sqm on days 1-10). MOPP and ABVD regimens administered sequentially or in alternating fashion had been employed as first choice treatment. The majority of patients had extranodal (80%) and a progressive disease resistant to previous chemotherapy (80%). Complete and partial remission were induced in 8 (26%) and 5 patients (16%), respectively, with an overall response rate of 42%. Median duration of complete remission was 10 months. Patients who did not respond to previous chemotherapies had a significantly lower complete response rate (16%). Myelosuppression was the most frequent complication, with one patient dying of a thrombocytopenic hemorrhage. The oral administration of drugs allowed good patients', compliance with treatment. CAVP is an effective regimen in the management of patients with refractory Hodgkin's disease and the results obtained are comparable with other third-line chemotherapies.

The role of restaging laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease

The role of restaging laparotomy (RL) in Hodgkin's disease was studied in 41 patients. Two patients were in clinical stage I, 16 in clinical stage II, 13 in clinical stage III and 10 in clinical stage IV. Eight cases had previously received radiation therapy alone, 26 chemotherapy and 7 combined chemo-, and radiotherapy. The patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on the results of the preoperative clinical reevaluation. Group 1 included 20 patients with suspicion of persistent disease; in 6 (30%) RL was positive. Group 2 consisted of 21 cases with clinical appearance of complete response; RL was positive in one case (4.7%). The results of the comparison confirm the high rate of false positive findings in CT and lymphography. RL appears as a valuable procedure in patients with positive or doubtful clinical findings at reevaluation after radical therapy, in order to reduce the risk of unnecessary treatment.

Secondary Acute non Lymphoid Leukemia in Patients Treated for non Hodgkin's Lymphoma: No Risk of Therapy-Related Anll after Provecip Schedule

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency, characteristics and actuarial risk of secondary acute non lymphoid leukemia (s-ANLL) in 141 patients treated for non Hodgkin's lymphoma with different modalities. One hundred and twenty-four patients received chemotherapy according to PROVECIP protocol (9). Of these, 15 also received as induction treatment a local nodal irradiation and 33 an extended field radiotherapy. Seventeen out of 141 were treated by total body irradiation. Of these, 15 relapsed and received salvage chemotherapy. Sixteen of the 124 patients treated with PROVECIP also underwent different chemotherapeutic programs as salvage treatment. Of the entire population studied, 2 patients developed an s-ANLL, 45 and 63 months after diagnosis of NHL. The type of treatment significantly affected the occurrence of s-ANLL, since both leukemias occurred in patients treated with total body irradiation, given alone or followed by chemotherapy. The actuarial risk at 8 years was 5.24% in the whole group, whereas it greatly increased in the group of patients treated with total body irradiation (24%). Conversely, no risk was found in the group treated with PROVECIP, alone, with additional chemotherapy, or with associated local or extended field radiotherapy.

[Role of late laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease]

Between 1976 and 1986 42 restaging laparotomies (RL) were performed in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD). Eleven patients had received only radiotherapy, 25 chemotherapy and 6 patients had received radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Thirty-seven patients underwent RL because of the uncertain answer to therapy. In 17 cases the persistence of abdominal disease was suspected; in 20 patients, on the contrary, the RL was performed to confirm the clinical evaluation of complete remission (CR). In the first group 6 RL (35%) were positive, in the latter group in one case only (5%) evidence of disease was found. In the last 5 patients RL was performed for abdominal recurrence after a Relapse free Survival (RFS) of 60 months (range 25-110 months). RFS of pathologically evaluated patients is significantly higher than that of those clinically evaluated. The great number of false positive (65%) suggests a role of RL in avoiding any further therapy in patients having no clear signs of disease after treatment completion; thus permitting a lower incidence of complications such as: induced leukaemia, neoplasia and infertility.

Sequential combination chemotherapy of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, cytosine-arabinoside, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (F-MACHOP)

An intensive treatment program was developed to achieve durable remissions in a high proportion of previously untreated patients with advanced stages of diffuse high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Fifty-six patients (15-68 years) received a course of F-MACHOP (5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, cytosine-arabinoside, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) every 3-4 weeks for 6 courses. Cycle active drugs were sequentially administered to expose rapidly proliferating tumor cells to the synergistic effects of these agents throughout the cell cycle. Forty-three patients achieved complete remission (77%) and 80% of the complete responders are projected to be alive and disease-free at 4 1/2 years (median follow-up 33 months). Up to 70% of all patients are predicted to be alive at 5 years. Bulky tumor, "B"-symptoms and lymphoblastic histology were poor prognostic factors, particularly when associated with clinically detectable disease after three courses. Toxicity included transitory myelodepression in most patients (2 septic deaths). This protocol provides effective and tolerable therapy for the majority of patients with advanced stages of diffuse aggressive NHL.

Evaluation of therapeutic modalities in the control of Hodgkin's disease

The results achieved in three different studies carried out on patients affected by Hodgkin's disease are discussed. In study No. 1, 58 patients with pathological Stage I-II were treated with only a "Mantle" field irradiation. The complete remission (CR) rate was 98% with an actuarial overall survival of 90%, and a median of follow-up of 80 months. Thirty-one percent of patients relapsed. In study No. 2, 42 patients were randomly allocated to receive only MOPP chemotherapy versus extended field irradiation; CR rate was 68 and 95%, respectively (p less than 0.05). The overall survival rate was 100% in the radiotherapy group and 82% in the MOPP group. No relapses have been observed in patients treated with MOPP. In study No. 3, 218 patients affected by advanced Stage HD were randomly treated with 6 cycles of MOPP chemotherapy versus 6 cycles of ABVD chemotherapy. In the MOPP group the CR rate, the relapse-free survival rate (RFS), and overall survival (OS) rates at 60 months were 77, 68, and 76% respectively, whereas, in the ABVD group the CR, the RFS, and OS rates at 60 months were 75, 77 and 80% respectively, (p less than 0.05). These data and statistical comparisons are analyzed.

A case of Burkitt lymphoma-L3ALL with t(8;14) translocation, developed 10 years after Hodgkin's disease

We report the case of a 38-year-old man, previously treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD) with chemo-radiotherapy who, 10 years later, developed a Burkitt lymphoma (BL) as a tumour mass of the ascendent colon and regional lymph nodes and, subsequently, on leukaemic bone-marrow cells, on the basis of histological, immunological (B phenotype, IgM-lambda) and cytogenetic, translocation t(8;14) features. The patient died a few days later; at autopsy no evidence of HD was found. This is the 2nd case of BL developing after HD so far described. The relationship between the 2 diseases is discussed and the importance of the immunodepression in the pathogenesis of the secondary Burkitt lymphoma is emphasized.

Acute leukaemia in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease

Fourteen acute non-lymphoid leukaemias (ANLL) were identified among 947 consecutive patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) treated in five collaborating centres in Italy between January 1969 and December 1979. Leukaemia developed 12-118 months after the diagnosis of HD and was always preceded by a pre-leukaemic phase. The karyotype of the leukaemic cells was studied in nine of the 14 patients and was abnormal in seven cases. Bone marrow agar cultures were performed in five of the 14 patients and were abnormal in every case. The actuarial risk of developing ANLL at 10 years was 6.2% for combined therapy, 4.8% for salvage therapy and 2.2% for chemotherapy alone. No case of ANLL was documented among 136 patients treated with radiotherapy alone. One patient developed acute promyelocytic leukaemia following treatment with ABVD and radiotherapy. Both univariate and multivariate analyses seem to demonstrate that the induction therapy modality is a significant variable in development of secondary acute leukaemia. The recognition of a significant risk of ANLL in patients treated for HD should create changes in treatment policy.