Combination chemotherapy with doxorubicin and lomustine. Treatment of refractory Hodgkin's disease

S. D. Williams and L. H. Einhorn

Ten patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease refractory to combination therapy with nitrogen mustard, vincristine sulfate, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) were treated with a combination of doxorubicin hydrochloride and lomustine. Toxicity was acceptable. Five patients (50%)attained complete remission (median duration, 15 months). Three patients attained a partial remission (median duration, four months). Survival ranged from three to more than 40 months, and five patients are still alive. One patient remains disease-free after a course of radiation therapy to a site of localized nodal relapse. The doxorubicin-lomustine regimen has induced meaningful remissions in a patient population with very refractory disease.