EFFICACY AND TOXICITY OF VINBLASTINE, BLEOMYCIN, AND METHOTREXATE WITH INVOLVED-FIELD RADIOTHERAPY IN CLINICAL STAGE IA AND IIA HODGKINS-DISEASE - A BRITISH NATIONAL LYMPHOMA INVESTIGATION PILOT-STUDY

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of vinblastine, bleomycin, and methotrexate (VBM) chemotherapy with involved-field radiotherapy in clinical stage IA and IIA Hodgkin's disease. Patients and Methods: Thirty eligible patients with clinical stage IA or IIA Hodgkin's disease, at intermediate risk of relapse, were enrolled onto a prospective multicenter pilot study. They received two cycles of VBM chemotherapy, followed by involved-field radiotherapy and then four further cycles of VBM. The median follow-up duration from the start of treatment is 30 months. Results: All 26 patients with assessable disease showed an objective response after two cycles of VBM (nine complete responses, 17 partial responses). By the completion of treatment, 27 patients were in complete remission; two had stable residual masses, which have not progressed at 26 and 34 months of follow-up; and one patient who died of treatment-related sepsis was in complete remission at that time. Two relapses have occurred, 19 and 28 months after starting VBM. Cough and dyspnea developed in 14 of 30 patients, and were associated with impairment of pulmonary function tests. Three episodes of neutropenic sepsis were recorded. Conclusion: VBM with involved-field radiotherapy is an effective treatment for early Hodgkin's disease. However, the associated toxicity, both pulmonary and hematologic, is severe, making the regimen unsuitable for routine use.