[Intermediate results of the German Hodgkin's disease therapy study]

Between July 1982 and June 1985 235 out of 436 untreated patients with Morbus Hodgkin's disease qualified for the protocols HD1 (stage IA to IIIA with risk factors), HD2 (stage IIIA) and HD3 (stages IIIB and IVA/B). Patients in HD1 received a combined radiochemotherapy (4 courses + 40 Gy EF vs. 4 courses chemotherapy + 20 Gy EF). In HD2 patients were randomized into TNI 40 Gy vs. 6 courses chemotherapy + 20 Gy IF. Patients in HD3 in complete remission (CR) after 6 courses chemotherapy were randomized into a consolidation therapy 20 Gy IF vs. 2 courses chemotherapy. Chemotherapy of the first 64 patients was COPP, 78 patients received COPP/ABVD. The complete remission rates in HD1 were 76% (COPP) resp. 73% (COPP/ABVD), in HD3 31% (COPP) resp. 62% (COPP/ABVD). Whereas COPP and COPP/ABVD achieved similar remission rates in low stages (HD1), the combination COPP/ABVD seems to be superior to COPP alone for stages IIB/IVA/B (HD3).