Isotopic immunoglobulin: a new systemic therapy for advanced Hodgkin's disease

Thirty-eight patients with advanced, progressive Hodgkin's disease who had relapsed from or who had not responded to treatment with at least two potentially curative combination chemotherapy regimens were entered into this phase 2 study. All patients received 131I antiferritin antibody administered intravenously (IV) at a dose of 30 mCi on day 0 and 20 mCi on day 5. Antibody was derived from rabbit, pig, and monkey species. Objective partial remission of measurable disease was recorded in 40% of patients. Symptomatic response was recorded in 77% of patients. Toxicity was restricted to bone marrow depression with thrombocytopenia greater than leukopenia. These responses are comparable to other reported phase 2 drugs in this patient population and subsequent trials of antibody free of radioactivity and antibody using a beta emitting isotope are being carried out to expand upon these results.