Prolonged disease-free survival in Hodgkin's disease with MOPP reinduction after first relapse

Thirty-two patients with Hodgkin's disease who relapsed after a first complete remission induced by nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) were retreated with MOPP chemotherapy. Nineteen patients achieved a second complete remission. Median duration of the second complete remission was 21 months. The likelihood of achieving a second complete response could be predicted by the duration of the first response. Fourteen of 15 patients whose first complete remission was longer than 12 months achieved a second complete response in contrast to five of 17 patients whose initial complete remission lasted less than 12 months (P less than 0.001). Median survival of all patients in this study who were re-treated with MOPP was longer than 4 years after their first relapse. We conclude that patients with Hodgkin's disease who relapse after a first complete remission induced by MOPP are not necessarily resistant to further MOPP therapy and can achieve long-term survival with MOPP reinduction.