Stage III and VI Hodgkin's disease. Success and failure of therapeutic protocol H2 65 (author's transl)

224 patients with stage III and IV Hodgkin's disease (H.D.) have been treated by 6 monthly MOPP courses. 190 patients achieved remission and among them there were 109 complete remissions (C.R.) . All patients received vinblastin maintenance combined with "reinduction" courses of MOPP (68 patients) or irradiation (57 patients). At ten years, remission curves are "on plateau" at 72% for those patients who achieved C.R. at 48% for those who had partial remission, and for all patients the ten years survival rate is 53%. The parameters which influence C.R. achievement are age, fever, histology, but the best predictive parameter seems to be lymphogram: diffuse involvement and aspects of cystic storage pattern as seen in "non Hodgkin lymphoma" heralding an unfavorable prognosis. The lymphogram picture should thus be included as parameter of initial classification and treatment active in "non Hodgkin lymphoma" such as Vincristine - Cytoxan - Prednisone - Adriamicin should be tried in these high risk patients.