A combined modality approach to the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Preliminary results of a prospectively randomized clinical trial.

Eighty-seven previously untreated patients with pathologic Stage IA, II (A or B), or IIIA Hodgkin's disease were randomized over a 48-month period to receive either megavoltage extended field radiotherapy alone or megavoltage radiotherapy limited to involved lymph node sites (including at least an upper mantle field) followed by combination chemotherapy with nitrogen mustard, vincristine, prednisone, and procarbazine (MOPP). Four patients (4.6%) failed to achieve remission with initial radiotherapy. Seventy-two evaluable patients have currently completed therapy. Ten of 41 patients achieving remission with radiation alone have relapsed, compared to only 1 of 31 receiving radiation plus chemotherapy. Seven patients have died, 3 of whom failed to achieve remission with initial radiotherapy. The other 4 had Stage IIIA disease treated with radiation alone. Severe myelosuppression occurred infrequently during chemotherapy, and neither serious infections nor second neoplasms have observed. Although these preliminary results are encouraging, longer followup is required to determine the ultimate effects of combined modality therapy on survival and long-term complications.