Intensive Combination Chemotherapy and X-Irradiation in Hodgkin's Disease
Summary A pilot study was begun in 1963 to test the feasibility of using in the treatment of Hodgkin9s disease a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone in full doses followed by radiotherapy where indicated. It was found that this form of therapy could be used without a prohibitive cost in toxicity. It appears that the incidence of complete remissions can be increased over that obtained with a single agent. Radiotherapy was tolerated after intensive chemotherapy, and further intensive chemotherapy was possible following high dose but limited field radiation. As expected, toxicity was increased when both modalities of therapy were employed. The duration of complete unmaintained remission in those patients with advanced disease is provocative even though the group is small. It is our feeling that these results invite further investigation of the use of effective agents in combination.