Bleomycin (NSC-125066) and CCNU (NSC-79037) in the combination chemotherapy of mopp-resistant hodgkin's disease

Abstract

Twenty-two patients with MOPP-resistant stage IVB Hodgkin's disease were treated with a combination of bleomycin and CCNU. The response rate in 18 patients surviving at least 1 month was 72% with 11 partial and two complete responses. The mean duration of response and survival in partial responders were 12.2 and 17.5 months respectively. The two complete responses resulted in survivals of 20 and 36 + months. Bleomycin toxicity contributed to two deaths, one pulmonary and and one hypotensive. Severe CCNU toxicity occurred after three of 82 administrations but there were no CCNU-related deaths. The majority of patients in the study tolerated the regimen without serious toxicity. Although highly effective in the temporary control of advanced resistant Hodgkin's disease, the program will hopefully be improved by the addition of longer-acting agents.