No statistically significant differences were detected between doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) plus radiotherapy and mechlorethamine, doxorubicin, vincristine, bleomycin, vinblastine, etoposide, and prednisone (Stanford V) regimens in patients with stage 1 or 2 locally extensive, bulky mediastinal Hodgkin lymphoma, a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown.1

There will be approximately 9,050 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States in 2015 and about 1,150 deaths from this cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.2

For the study, researchers performed a subgroup analysis in patients with stage 1 or 2 bulky mediastinal Hodgkin lymphoma from the phase 3 North American Intergroup E2496 Trial that evaluated combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.1


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“This is the first prospective trial reporting outcomes specific to this subgroup, and it sets a benchmark for comparison of ongoing and future studies,” the investigators said.1

Of the 794 patients included in the study, 264 had stage 1 or 2 locally extensive, bulky mediastinal disease. Of those, 135 received six to eight cycles of ABVD every 28 days and 129 received Stanford V once weekly for 12 weeks.

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All patients then received 36 Gy of modified involved field radiotherapy to the mediastinum, hila, and supraclavicular regions 2 to 3 weeks after finishing chemotherapy.1

Results showed that the overall response rate was 83% in the ABVD group compared with 88% in the Stanford V group (P=0.40) and the complete response rates were 75% and 81% in the ABVD and Stanford V groups (P=0.30), respectively.1