MVPP Chemotherapy Combined With Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Hodgkin's Disease in Children

Abstract

Thirty-four children with Hodgkin's disease were treated during the years 1969--75. After radiotherapy, 7--15 cycles of MVPP were given within 24--53 months. In order to avoid chronic leukopenia, leukocyte counts were made frequently during chemotherapy, and the drug doses adjusted accordingly. A complete remission was obtained in 32 of the 34 children. Two patients died because of progressive disease. Twelve of the 32 survivors have been followed for at least 5 years, and a further 12 for at least 3 years. Three children are still on chemotherapy, whereas the remaining 29 being followed are in continued complete remission.

Childhood stage IV Hodgkin disease: Therapeutic results of the Polish Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group

“…In the first period the predominant involvement of extralymphatic organs was in the liver, whereas in the third period the lungs were most frequently affected, considerably more often than the liver, bone marrow, and other organs (Table I) [12,13,22,23].…”

“…Nevertheless, the majority of pediatric centers use a combined treatment in patients with stage IV HD [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Therapeutic protocols developed in 1969 by the Department of Pediatric Hematology in Kraków [22] were accepted by the other centers of Polish Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group (PPLLG), and after several modifications they are still in use [13]. Changes in staging and treatment as well as the therapeutic results (approximately 90% cure rate) in children with all stages of HD have been presented elsewhere [12,13,23].…”