Southeastern Cancer Study Group trials with nitrosoureas in Hodgkin's disease

A decade of studies with the nitrosoureas in the Southeastern Cancer Study Group has shown that they are active agents for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and that they may be combined with other chemotherapeutic agents in regimens which have acceptable toxicity to produce excellent response rates. Further more, six monthly cycles of treatment with a combination of either BCNU, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, and prednisone or mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone and procarbazine(MOPP), following the achievement of a clinical CR, produce significantly superior durations of remission and survival in previously untreated patients. Our studies with BCNU given orally have indicated that it is not a clinically useful drug. Finally, studies with methyl-CCNU given orally have indicated no particular place for this agent in the treatment od Hodgkin's disease when compared to CCNU and BCNU.