Hodgkin lymphoma patients did not benefit more from radiotherapy than consolidation chemotherapy

08-22-2006

Advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients did not benefit more from radiotherapy (RT) than consolidation chemotherapy (CT) after a doxorubicin-induced CR.

"From 1989 to 1996, 533 eligible patients with stage IIIB/IV HL were randomly assigned to receive 6 cycles of hybrid MOPP/ABV (mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone/Adriamycin [doxorubicin], bleomycin, vinblastine; n=266) or ABVPP (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, procarbazine, prednisone; n=267). Patients in complete remission (CR) or partial response of at least 75% after 6 cycles received 2 cycles of consolidation CT (n=208) or sub total nodal RT (n=210)," scientists in France reported.

"A better survival probability was observed after ABVPP alone: the 10-year overall survival (OS) estimates were 90% for ABVPPx8, 78% for MOPP/ABVx8, 82% for MOPP/ABV with FIT, and 77% for ABVPPx6 with RT (p=.03); and the 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) estimates were 70%, 76%, 79%, and 76%, respectively (p=.09). The 10-year DFS estimates for patients treated with consolidation CT or RT were 73% and 78% (p=.07), and OS estimates were 84% and 79%, respectively (p=.29)," explained C. Ferme and colleagues, Institut Gustave Roussy.

The researchers concluded, "These results showed that RT was not superior to consolidation CT after a doxorubicin-induced CR in patients with advanced HL. An analysis of competing risks identified age more than 45 years as a significant risk factor for death, relapse, and second cancers. Prospective evaluation of late adverse events may improve the management of patients with HL."

Ferme and colleagues published their study in Blood (Long-term results and competing risk analysis of the H89 trial in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma: a study by the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA). Blood, 2006;107(12):4636-4642).

For more information, contact C. Ferme, Institut Gustave Roussy, Dept. of Medical, 39 Rue C Desmoulins, F-94805 Villejuif, France.

Publisher contact information for the journal Blood is: American Society Hematology, 1900 M Street. NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

Keywords: Villejuif, France, Adriamycin, Adverse Drug Effect, Adverse Drug Event, Adverse Drug Reaction, Bleomycin Sulfate, Chemotherapy, Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Cancer Drugs, Hodgkin Lymphoma, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Prednisone, Procarbazine, Cancer Therapy, Vinblastine, Vincristine.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.