Combined modality therapy of Hodgkin's disease: 10-year results of National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group multicenter clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to compare four methods of treatment for stage III-IV Hodgkin's disease. Between January 1972 and September 1976, 266 patients with stage IIIB, IVA, and IVB Hodgkin's disease from 21 cancer treatment centers across Canada were registered as eligible; 40 were found to be ineligible. Of the 226 remaining patients, only seven were followed for less than 10 years. All patients received three courses of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) chemotherapy, which induced a complete response (CR) in 36%; an additional 42% obtained adequate disease control. Patients were randomly assigned to (1) treatment with radiation to the abdomen and mantle (group AX3, 62 patients) or (2) continue their treatment with an additional three courses of MOPP (group A, 105 patients). For the A group, a second randomization took place 3 months later (regardless of status at that time) to (1) no further treatment (AC6, 23 patients), (2) radiotherapy to the abdomen and mantle (A...