[Combination chemotherapy of advanced Hodgkin's disease with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, and prednisolone].

Thirty-three patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease were treated with a combination chemotherapy consisting of vincristine 1 mg/m2 iv on day 1, 8, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 iv on day 1, procarbazine 100 mg/m2 p.o. day 1-7, and prednisolone 40 mg/m2 p.o. day 1-7. Twenty patients received this regimen every 4 weeks (VCPP II regimen). Furthermore, we conducted higher dose intensive VCPP II-2 regimen which was repeated every two weeks for thirteen patients. Complete response rate of both regimens was 63% (VCPP II 45%, VCPP II-2 85%). The median duration of CR was 37 + months. Leukopenia, neurotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity were commonly observed but were clinically manageable. These results indicate that high dose intensive chemotherapy is effective for achieving high CR rate for advanced Hodgkin's disease.