Abstract
The therapeutic results obtained in 59 patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease treated from 1964 to 1969 with sequential chemotherapy employing a single agent are reported. The main sequence was alkylating agent first, vinblastine second and procarbazine third. Complete plus partial remission (> 50 %) ranged from a minimum of 37 % for patients treated with procarbazine to a maximum of 42 % for those given vinblastine. The median duration of response ranged from 4 to 5 months. Overall median survival from institution of chemotherapy was 24 months. Patients (26 cases) responding to 2 or more drugs showed a median survival of 40 months, which was statistically greater than that observed in an equal number of cases responding only to one drug (13 months) and than that of 7 patients unresponsive to all drugs (9 months). It is concluded from this retrospective study that survival in advanced Hodgkin's disease is longer in patients responding to at least two drugs that in patients responding less or not at all.
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