Lomustine, vindesine and bleomycin (LVB) used in the treatment of relapsed advanced Hodgkin's disease. A prospective study on behalf of the east of Scotland and Newcastle lymphoma group (ESNLG)

Sixty-three patients with relapsed advanced Hodgkin's disease were treated with lomustine (CCNU), vindesine and bleomycin (LVB). Age range was 17–72 years, with 38 males and 25 females. Thirty patients achieved complete remission (CR) with a median duration of 24 + months (range 3–55). Nineteen continue in unmaintained CR. CR rates were highest for those patients who relapsed > 6 months after first line treatment and for those at second or subsequent relapse. CR rates were higher in those with nodal only relapse. Twenty-seven patients were non-responders and six were partial responders. These 33 patients were subsequently changed to alternative chemotherapeutic regimes and 26 failed to respond to any therapy and have since died. Only one patient is in unmaintained complete remission. The regimen was well tolerated by patients, and easy to administer. It produced no serious episodes of toxicity. We conclude that LVB is of value in the management of relapsed advanced Hodgkin's disease especially in chronic relapsing patients, and where relapse occurs > 6 months after first line treatment. We are presently unsure whether it offers any advantage over reintroduction of first line treatment in the latter group.