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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2017Efficacy and the risk of severe late effects have to be well-balanced in treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Late adverse effects include secondary malignancies which... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Optimisation of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for untreated Hodgkin lymphoma patients with respect to second malignant neoplasms, overall and progression-free survival: individual participant data analysis.
BACKGROUND
Efficacy and the risk of severe late effects have to be well-balanced in treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Late adverse effects include secondary malignancies which often have a poor prognosis. To synthesise evidence on the risk of secondary malignancies after current treatment approaches comprising chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, we performed a meta-analysis based on individual patient data (IPD) from patients treated for newly diagnosed HL.
OBJECTIVES
We investigated several questions concerning possible changes in the risk of secondary malignancies when modifying chemotherapy or radiotherapy (omission of radiotherapy, reduction of the radiation field, reduction of the radiation dose, use of fewer chemotherapy cycles, intensification of chemotherapy). We also analysed whether these modifications affect progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
SEARCH METHODS
We searched MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL trials databases comprehensively in June 2010 for all randomised trials in HL since 1984. Key international trials registries were also searched. The search was updated in March 2015 without collecting further IPD (one further eligible study found) and again in July 2017 (no further eligible studies).
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for untreated HL patients which enrolled at least 50 patients per arm, completed recruitment by 2007 and performed a treatment comparison relevant to our objectives.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Study groups submitted IPD, including age, sex, stage and the outcomes secondary malignant neoplasm (SMN), OS and PFS as time-to-event data. We meta-analysed these data using Petos method (SMN) and Cox regression with inverse-variance pooling (OS, PFS) for each of the five study questions, and performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses to assess the applicability and robustness of the results.
MAIN RESULTS
We identified 21 eligible trials and obtained IPD for 16. For four studies no data were supplied despite repeated efforts, while one study was only identified in 2015 and IPD were not sought. For each study question, between three and six trials with between 1101 and 2996 participants in total and median follow-up between 6.7 and 10.8 years were analysed. All participants were adults and mainly under 60 years. Risk of bias was assessed as low for the majority of studies and outcomes. Chemotherapy alone versus same chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. Omitting additional radiotherapy probably reduces secondary malignancy incidence (Peto odds ratio (OR) 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23 to 0.82, low quality of evidence), corresponding to an estimated reduction of eight-year SMN risk from 8% to 4%. This decrease was particularly true for secondary acute leukemias. However, we had insufficient evidence to determine whether OS rates differ between patients treated with chemotherapy alone versus combined-modality (hazard ratio (HR) 0.71, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.11, moderate quality of evidence). There was a slightly higher rate of PFS with combined modality, but our confidence in the results was limited by high levels of statistical heterogeneity between studies (HR 1.31, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.73, moderate quality of evidence). Chemotherapy plus involved-field radiation versus same chemotherapy plus extended-field radiation (early stages) . There is insufficient evidence to determine whether smaller radiation field reduces SMN risk (Peto OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.16, low quality of evidence), OS (HR 0.89, 95% C: 0.70 to 1.12, high quality of evidence) or PFS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.21, high quality of evidence). Chemotherapy plus lower-dose radiation versus same chemotherapy plus higher-dose radiation (early stages). There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of lower-radiation dose on SMN risk (Peto OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.50, low quality of evidence), OS (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.28, high quality of evidence) or PFS (HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.48, high quality of evidence). Fewer versus more courses of chemotherapy (each with or without radiotherapy; early stages). Fewer chemotherapy courses probably has little or no effect on SMN risk (Peto OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.62), OS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.73 to1.34) or PFS (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.45).Outcomes had a moderate (SMN) or high (OS, PFS) quality of evidence. Dose-intensified versus ABVD-like chemotherapy (with or without radiotherapy in each case). In the mainly advanced-stage patients who were treated with intensified chemotherapy, the rate of secondary malignancies was low. There was insufficient evidence to determine the effect of chemotherapy intensification (Peto OR 1.37, CI 0.89 to 2.10, low quality of evidence). The rate of secondary acute leukemias (and for younger patients, all secondary malignancies) was probably higher than among those who had treatment with standard-dose ABVD-like protocols. In contrast, the intensified chemotherapy protocols probably improved PFS (eight-year PFS 75% versus 69% for ABVD-like treatment, HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.7 to 0.95, moderate quality of evidence). Evidence suggesting improved survival with intensified chemotherapy was not conclusive (HR: 0.85, CI 0.70 to 1.04), although escalated-dose BEACOPP appeared to lengthen survival compared to ABVD-like chemotherapy (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.79, moderate quality of evidence).Generally, we could draw valid conclusions only in terms of secondary haematological malignancies, which usually occur less than 10 years after initial treatment, while follow-up within the present analysis was too short to record all solid tumours.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The risk of secondary acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (AML/MDS) is increased but efficacy is improved among patients treated with intensified chemotherapy protocols. Treatment decisions must be tailored for individual patients. Consolidating radiotherapy is associated with an increased rate of secondary malignancies; therefore it appears important to define which patients can safely be treated without radiotherapy after chemotherapy, both for early and advanced stages. For early stages, treatment optimisation methods such as use of fewer chemotherapy cycles and reduced field or reduced-dose radiotherapy did not appear to markedly affect efficacy or secondary malignancy risk. Due to the limited amount of long-term follow-up in this meta-analysis, further long-term investigations of late events are needed, particularly with respect to secondary solid tumours. Since many older studies have been included, possible improvement of radiotherapy techniques must be considered when interpreting these results.
Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Chemoradiotherapy; Dacarbazine; Disease-Free Survival; Doxorubicin; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy Dosage; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vinblastine
PubMed: 28901021
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008814.pub2 -
Seminars in Hematology Jan 2013During the last 50 years there has been great progress in understanding the biology of Hodgkin disease, which is now called Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), since it has been... (Review)
Review
During the last 50 years there has been great progress in understanding the biology of Hodgkin disease, which is now called Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), since it has been definitely shown to be a lymphoid neoplasm and its B-cell origin has been documented in the vast majority of cases. Progress in biology has also resulted in the identification of numerous biological prognostic factors, which may facilitate the definition of high-risk groups of patients and provide guidance for individualized therapy. Unfortunately, biological prognostic factors have not been incorporated in prognostic models applicable in everyday practice and need prospective validation. More importantly, during the last 50 years, advanced stage HL has been transformed from a rather incurable into a highly curable disease. Chemotherapy has gradually improved in terms of efficacy. MOPP was replaced by the more efficacious and less toxic ABVD regimen, but higher cure rates with BEACOPP-escalated have come at the expense of increased toxicity. Better risk stratification, probably based on early, interim positron emission tomography (PET) evaluation, may in the near future better identify those patients who really need intensified chemotherapy. Furthermore, the intensification of chemotherapy and the optimal use of PET at the end of chemotherapy have already minimized the use of radiotherapy in advanced disease, thus reducing the risk of long-term complications. Relapsed and refractory disease has also been rendered curable in almost half of the patients with the advent of effective salvage regimens, and, mainly, autologous stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, better understanding of the biology of HL has permitted the development of targeted therapy. Anti-CD30 targeting with brentuximab vedotin (BV) was the first targeted therapy to be approved for relapsed/refractory HL, either after autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCF) failure or after failure of two regimens in patients who were not candidates for transplant. Hopefully, the determination of the optimal role and timing of BV treatment and the development and approval of other targeted compounds will further improve the outcome of advanced stage as well as relapsed/refractory HL.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Brentuximab Vedotin; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Immunoconjugates; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
PubMed: 23507479
DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2013.02.002 -
Prilozi (Makedonska Akademija Na... Jul 2022: The comprehensive management of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a success story in contemporary oncology. Over the past decades, the survival rate of patients...
: The comprehensive management of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a success story in contemporary oncology. Over the past decades, the survival rate of patients with HL has significantly improved. The objective of this analysis is to evaluate and document the progress in the management of Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients in our country, reflected in their vital statistics, over time periods defined by the respective standard of treatment. : The present study is designed as a retrospective-prospective study. We analyzed different modalities of treatment and compared 5 and 10-year overall survival rates in a total of 588 Hodgkin's lymphoma patients treated at the University Clinic for Hematology in Skopje during two consecutive time periods, before 2000 and after 2000. The entire observation period is from 1980 to 2020. All patients are above the age of 14, with a documented histopathological diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma and with evaluable medical documentation, including clinical and laboratory data on their initial condition, the administered therapy, as well as the clinical follow-up of the patients. : The basic clinical features of the analyzed population across the two periods correlate with those reported in the relevant medical literature, with only slight deviations. Ten-year overall survival rates improved by 31.7% through the two calendar periods. During the last two decades of the previous century (1980-2000) the initial treatment options were COPP and COPP-like regimens for the vast majority of patients (94.7%), leading to disease remission in 80% of them. After 2000, 95.8% of de novo diagnosed patients have been treated with ABVD chemotherapy as a frontline choice and the complete response rate is 88.4%. We confirmed the superiority of ABVD in terms of efficacy, improved tumor and disease control, as well as its long-term clinical outcome. While in the past we had very limited options for relapsed/refractory HL patients, the analysis of the results of HL patients treated with various therapeutic approaches in the latter period, defines BEACOPP as the preferred choice. High-dose chemotherapy, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell graft, as a strategy for our R/R patients in the timeframe after 2000, ensures a 5-year overall survival for 51% of them, whereas 45% of the patients survive more than 10 years. : This analysis from our Hodgkin's lymphoma database illustrates that there has been tremendous improvement in the long-term survival rates since the turn of this century. At our institution we strive to implement positive trends in practice, as suggested by relevant guidelines, regarding the evolution and progress in the diagnostic workup, treatment, and the overall management of patients with Hodgkin's disease. The objective would be to secure favorable vital statistics for our patient population, now reaching 83.5% at 10 years, which closely correlates with the data of more developed countries and centers. In future clinical trials we will also evaluate the efficacy of brentuximab-vedotin and new PD-1 blocking antibodies.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Dacarbazine; Doxorubicin; Hematology; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Vinblastine
PubMed: 35843924
DOI: 10.2478/prilozi-2022-0027 -
Blood Mar 2011Dose-intensified treatment strategies for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have demonstrated improvements in cure but may increase risk for acute and long-term toxicities,... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
Dose-intensified treatment strategies for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have demonstrated improvements in cure but may increase risk for acute and long-term toxicities, particularly in children. The Children's Oncology Group assessed the feasibility of a dose-intensive regimen, BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone) in children with high-risk HL (stage IIB or IIIB with bulk disease, stage IV). Rapidity of response was assessed after 4 cycles of BEACOPP. Rapid responders received consolidation therapy with guidelines to reduce the risk of sex-specific long-term toxicities of therapy. Females received 4 cycles of COPP/ABV (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine) without involved field radiation therapy (IFRT). Males received 2 cycles of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) with IFRT. Slow responders received 4 cycles of BEACOPP and IFRT. Ninety-nine patients were enrolled. Myelosuppression was frequent. Rapid response was achieved by 74% of patients. Five-year event-free-survival is 94%, IFRT with median follow-up of 6.3 years. There were no disease progressions on study therapy. Secondary leukemias occurred in 2 patients. Overall survival is 97%. Early intensification followed by less intense response-based therapy for rapidly responding patients is an effective strategy for achieving high event-free survival in children with high-risk HL. This trial is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00004010.
Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclophosphamide; Disease-Free Survival; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Male; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vincristine; Young Adult
PubMed: 21079154
DOI: 10.1182/blood-2010-05-285379 -
Cancer Management and Research 2021In the present study, we have tried to understand how the level of risk and survival probability changes over time for patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma by...
BACKGROUND
In the present study, we have tried to understand how the level of risk and survival probability changes over time for patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma by employing conditional survival and annual hazard as dynamic estimates of prognosis and survival.
METHODS
This retrospective study reviewed the clinical data of patients with newly diagnosed classical Hodgkin's lymphoma admitted to Peking University Cancer Hospital between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017. Conditional survival and annual hazard rate were defined as the survival probability and yearly event rate, respectively, assuming that patients have survived for a defined time.
RESULTS
A total of 384 patients were included (median age, 32 years; range, 6-77 years), of which 218 (56.8%) patients had early-stage disease. The median follow-up time was 41.3 months. The 5-year conditional overall survival (COS) rates remained favorable and showed an increase from 89% at treatment to 94% at year 5, while the 5-year conditional failure-free survival (CFFS) rate increased from 70% at treatment to 96% at year 5. The annual hazard of failure decreased from over 15% at diagnosis to less than 5% after 3 years. Early-stage patients had constantly lower annual estimates for hazard of death (range, 0-3.0%) and failure (range, 0-14.3%). However, the hazard of failure in advanced-stage patients decreased from 24.2% at diagnosis to below 8% after 3 years, whereas the hazard of death was always at relatively low levels. Patients with a high IPS risk score (≥3) had significantly lower COS and CFFS during the first 4 years. Patients who received the BEACOPP regimen had better 5-year COS and 5-year CFFS than those who received the ABVD regimen.
CONCLUSION
The survival probability increased and hazard of failure decreased over time.
PubMed: 34471386
DOI: 10.2147/CMAR.S324543 -
American Journal of Hematology Jan 2012Therapy of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is designed to prolong survival and minimize toxicity. A total of 124 patients with newly diagnosed HL and adverse prognostic factors...
A 10-year experience with treatment of high and standard risk Hodgkin disease: six cycles of tailored BEACOPP, with interim scintigraphy, are effective and female fertility is preserved.
Therapy of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is designed to prolong survival and minimize toxicity. A total of 124 patients with newly diagnosed HL and adverse prognostic factors were prospectively studied between July, 1999 and August, 2005. Patients with early unfavorable and advanced disease were eligible for the study. Patients were assigned to therapy based on international prognostic score (IPS). Those with IPS ≥ 3 received three cycles of escalated BEACOPP (EB). All others received two cycles of standard BEACOPP (SB). Subsequent therapy was prospectively assigned according to early interim GA(67) or positron emission tomography (PET)/computerized tomography (CT). Four cycles of EB or SB were administered following a positive or negative scan, respectively. Complete remission rate, 10-year progression free (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 97, 87, and 88%, respectively, at a median follow-up of 89 months (5-144). PFS and OS were similar in both groups. Fertility status was assessed in 38 females aged <40 years; 94% of females younger than 40 years preserved their cyclic ovarian function. Nineteen conceived during follow-up for 30 pregnancies, delivering 24 babies. Deliveries were reported up to 7 years from diagnosis. Predictive value of negative interim Ga(67) or PET/CT was 87 and 93%, respectively. Six cycles of tailored BEACOPP, for patients with adverse prognostic factors, provide encouraging long-term PFS and OS, and fertility is preserved in most females.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Fertility Preservation; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multimodal Imaging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Prognosis; Sex Factors; Survival Analysis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vincristine; Young Adult
PubMed: 21956220
DOI: 10.1002/ajh.22187 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Sep 2021Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterized by the presence of malignant Reed Sternberg cells. Although the current curability rate in patients with HL has increased, up to...
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterized by the presence of malignant Reed Sternberg cells. Although the current curability rate in patients with HL has increased, up to 30% of those in the advanced stages and 5% to 10% of those in limited stages of the disease, relapse. According to the studies, the relapse risk in HL decreases after 2 years. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relapse risk and event free survival (EFS) in patients with HL treated with Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine and Dacarbazine (ABVD), or treated with Bleomycin, Etoposide, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Procarbazine, and Prednisone (BEACOPP) regimens. In an observational, consecutive-case scenario, 71 patients (median age 32 years; range 16 to 80 years) diagnosed within a 4-year timeframe were enrolled; all patients were treated according to standards of care. The average follow-up duration was 26 months. The risk of relapse, in patients older than 40 years, decreased after 1 year, OR = 0.707 (95% CI 0.506 to 0.988), and 2 years, OR = 0.771 (95% CI 0.459 to 1.295), respectively. Patients in the advanced stages had a higher International Prognostic Score (IPS) (score ≥ 4). The overall survival at 2 years was 57.74% and the disease-specific survival at 2 years was 71.83%. Regardless, the chemotherapy regimen and the EFS time, advanced stage, high IPS and bulky disease were still associated with an increased relapse risk in patients with HL. The use of ABVD chemotherapy regimen followed by 2 years EFS was associated with a reduced relapse risk.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Cyclophosphamide; Dacarbazine; Disease-Free Survival; Doxorubicin; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome; Vinblastine; Young Adult
PubMed: 34684063
DOI: 10.3390/medicina57101026 -
Journal of Internal Medicine Sep 2011Radiation therapy (RT) alone and more recently in combination with chemotherapy (combined modality therapy; CMT) has been the cornerstone of curative treatment for... (Review)
Review
Radiation therapy (RT) alone and more recently in combination with chemotherapy (combined modality therapy; CMT) has been the cornerstone of curative treatment for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) for over 40 years. Because of increasing awareness of the late morbidity and mortality associated with RT, recent treatment regimens have attempted to limit its use. Chemotherapy only has been demonstrated to be a treatment option for most patients with localized HL. Current clinical trials have targeted subgroups of such patients who may be at an increased risk of recurrence for the addition of limited RT to chemotherapy.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Brachial Plexus; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclophosphamide; Dacarbazine; Deoxycytidine; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Fibrosis; Heart; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Lung; Lymphedema; Neoplasm Staging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Assessment; Secondary Prevention; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Vinblastine; Vincristine; Gemcitabine
PubMed: 21668822
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02410.x -
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Mar 2016The purpose of this study was to determine the fertility rates following treatment by means of the BEACOPP regimen (regular and escalated) (bleomycin, etoposide,...
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine the fertility rates following treatment by means of the BEACOPP regimen (regular and escalated) (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone) as compared to the ABVD regimen (doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, bleomycin) in Hodgkin lymphoma patients under the age of 40 at the time of treatment.
METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to 180 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. The questionnaire was composed of questions concerning reproduction and also menopausal and aging symptoms in females and males. The analyses were made using data collected from 123 patients (76 females and 47 males) who returned the questionnaire. All of the patients were treated between 1999 and 2012.
RESULTS
In comparing the ABVD and BEACOPP groups of female patients, the frequency of the therapy-induced amenorrhea and the restored menses following treatment were found to be significantly different statistically (p = 0.002 and p = 0.012, respectively). The secondary amenorrhea statistically appeared more often in the BEACOPP group (p = 0.003) while the cases of achieving pregnancy and having children after chemotherapy were not significantly different (p = 0.630, p = 0.070, respectively). In comparing the ABVD and BEACOPP treatments in male patients, the only significant difference was in the number of artificially inseminated or in vitro pregnancies achieved in the BEACOPP and escalated BEACOPP group, p = 0.008 and p = 0.002, respectively. In total, 45.2% of patients in the ABVD female group, 34.6% in the BEACOPP female group, 52.6% in the ABVD male group, and 33.3% in the male BEACOPP group, respectively, of patients attempting conception post-therapy, had children after chemotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on these high rates of childbirth following BEACOPP chemotherapy, we have concluded that intensified chemotherapy is not a definite predictor of reduced fertility in young HL patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amenorrhea; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Dacarbazine; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Fertility; Fertility Preservation; Follow-Up Studies; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Infertility, Female; Infertility, Male; Male; Pregnancy; Procarbazine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vinblastine; Vincristine; Young Adult
PubMed: 26678493
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-015-0636-6 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Feb 1997At present, treatment results for patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease remain unsatisfactory. Standard chemotherapy M(C)OPP (nitrogen mustard...
PURPOSE
At present, treatment results for patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease remain unsatisfactory. Standard chemotherapy M(C)OPP (nitrogen mustard (cyclophosphamide). vincristine, procabazine, and prednisone). ABVD (adriamycine, bleomycine, vinblastine, and dacarbacine) or M(C)OPP/ABVD +/- radiotherapy fail to achieve long-term complete remission in 35% to 50% of these patients. The BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) regimen was developed to improve treatment results by dose intensification achieved by reduced duration of treatment (time intensification) and addition of etoposide.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Thirty untreated patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease stage IIB IV according to the Ann Arbor classification were treated with the time intensified BEACOPP regimen. Each patient was scheduled to receive eight cycles of chemotherapy with consolidating radiotherapy to sites of initial bulk disease and to residual tumor remaining after chemotherapy.
RESULTS
All patients were evaluable for assessment of toxicity, treatment response, freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) and survival (SV). Of 30 treated patients, 29 patients received the intended eight cycles of BEACOPP. One patient in clinical CR, terminated the chemotherapy at his own request after six cycles and is at this time, 48 months after the end of treatment, in complete remission. Toxicity was tolerable with WHO grade 3/4 leucopenia in 28% of chemotherapy cycles and one severe (WHO grade 3) infection. No treatment-related death occurred. Cycles could generally be given on schedule. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in all but two patients (93%). At present, only one patient has relapsed. At a median follow-up of 40 months, FFTF-rate is 89% (lower confidence limit: 80%). One patient died due to progressive disease.
CONCLUSION
The BEACOPP regimen is feasible at moderate hematopoeitic toxicity. With a FFTF-rate of 89% at a median follow-up of 40 months, the treatment results are very encouraging. A prospective randomised trial has been initiated to compare the BEACOPP regimen with the standard COPP/ABVD regimen in advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Treatment Outcome; Vincristine
PubMed: 9093722
DOI: 10.1023/a:1008294312741