Raemaekers J, Kluin-Nelemans H, Teodorovic I, Meerwaldt C, Noordijk E, Thomas J, Glabbeke MV, Henry-Amar M, Carde P. The achievements of the EORTC Lymphoma Group. European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.
Eur J Cancer 2002;
38 Suppl 4:S107-13. [PMID:
11858975 DOI:
10.1016/s0959-8049(01)00446-4]
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Abstract
From 1964 onwards, the EORTC Lymphoma Group has conducted seven consecutive randomised phase 3 trials on early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma aiming at increasing efficacy, while decreasing short- and long-term toxicity. Staging laparotomy is definitely abandoned and replaced by identification of prognostic subgroups based on pretreatment clinical characteristics. Event-free and overall survival significantly improved from about 50 and then 70%, in the early years, to over 80 and then 90% more recently. Radiotherapy fields have become more restricted, whereas chemotherapy has become standard. Longitudinal quality-of-life assessment has become an integral part of our studies. In advanced stages, overall outcome has improved as well with 6-year survival rates of over 80%. In aggressive types of NHL, the second generation chemotherapy schedule CHVmP-BV was superior to CHVmP. We could not show any advantage for intensification of upfront treatment with autologous stem cell transplantation.
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