The treatment of advanced hodgkin's disease

Between January, 1975, and December, 1978, 118 patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease were treated with 8 months of alternating MOPP and adriamycin, bleomycin, dacarbazine and vinblastine (ABDV) combined with 1 month of low-dose radiation therapy (2,000 rad) to areas initially involved with bulky disease. Among 57 evaluable previously-untreated patients, 50/57 (88%) achieved complete and 7/57 (12%) partial remissions. The estimated relapse rate among the complete responders was 16% at 36 months from date of remission. Toxicity was comparable to that of other combination chemotherapy regimens. These results are among the best reported for the treatment of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease.