Factors affecting relapse following chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease

A study of the factors affecting relapse following combination chemotherapy has been undertaken in 64 previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease. All patients were investigated and treated according to protocols of the British National Lymphoma Investigation. Bulk disease was significantly more common in the treatment failure group, being present in 23 out of 37 patients who failed compared to eight out of 27 patients who remain relapse-free (P less than 0.025). Reduced drug dosage was associated with treatment failure in 19 out of 37 patients receiving suboptimal chemotherapy compared to only four of 27 patients in the relapse-free group (P less than 0.01). Patients over the age of 50 years were more likely to receive suboptimal drug dosages (P less than 0.05).