[Effect of combined chemotherapy on the prognosis of Hodgkin's disease: retrospective study of 74 cases from 1959-1973].

In this retrospective study the effect of combined chemotherapy on survival of patients with Hodgkin's disease is investigated. Among 125 cases observed between 1959 and 1973, the survival, response rate and duration of remission of patients treated with single drugs are compared with the same parameters in those treated by polychemotherapy. Further, since the combined treatment schedule was introduced in our group in 1969, survival of patients treated before and after this date is likewise compared. 35% of patients in the single drug group survived for more than 2 years, against 69% in the polychemotherapy group. At 3-year survival, the corresponding values were 12% and 61% respectively. For patients treated before 1969, survival of 2 and 3 years represents 45% and 22%. For patients treated from 1969 to 1973, the corresponding values are 61% and 51%. Rates of complete response are 20% for single drug treatments and 70% for combined treatments. Analysis of the results suggests that these differences correspond to the therapeutic superiority of combined chemotherapy in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and not to major discrepancies in prognostic factors among the patient groups compared.