Combination Therapy for Early Unfavorable Hodgkin Lymphoma

Four cycles of chemotherapy plus involved-field radiotherapy were highly effective for stage I–II Hodgkin lymphoma with unfavorable clinical features.

Combined modality chemotherapy plus involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) provides high cure rates in patients with stage I–II Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, each modality carries excess risks for acute and delayed toxicities and for relapse among patients with unfavorable clinical features.

To compare outcomes associated with various chemotherapy regimens and IFRT doses, investigators in the German Hodgkin Study Group conducted a randomized, multicenter trial involving 1395 HL patients (median age, 33; range, 16–75) who were diagnosed with early unfavorable HL. Unfavorable disease was defined as stage I or II disease with one or more of the following risk factors: bulky mediastinal mass, extranodal disease, involvement of three or more nodal …

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee