Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Center have reported that six cycles of ABVD is effective and safe for patients with “limited-stage, nonbulky HL [Hodgkin’s lymphoma] and would spare young patients radiation toxicity.” The details of this study were published in the March, 20 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.1

Localized Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or the two modalities combined. The optimal therapy that cures the most patients with the least side effects is still being determined. Researchers affiliated with National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group have previously reported that patients with limited-stage, IA-IIA, Hodgkin’s lymphoma do not benefit from radiation therapy in addition to chemotherapy. The present goal of treatment of patients with Hodgkin’s disease is to reduce long-term toxicities, especially those related to radiation therapy.

The current study included 71 patients with HL with a median age of 29 years and a range of 17-44 years. All had non-bulky Stage I-II disease and were treated with six cycles of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarabazine). The median follow-up was 60 months.

• Complete remission was achieved in 100%.
• There were six relapses and all were treated successfully “with second-line chemotherapy/radiation and autologous stem-cell transplantation.”

Comments: These data confirm previous observations that radiation therapy is not necessary for a high cure rate for patients with Stage I-II HL.

Reference:

1 Canellos GP, Abramson JS, Fisher DC, et al. Treatment of favorable, limited-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma with chemotherapy without consolidation by radiation therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2010;28:1611-1615.