Stanford V regimen plus consolidative radiotherapy is an effective therapeutic program for bulky or advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease

Since September 1996, 48 untreated patients with bulky or advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease received the 12-week Stanford V chemotherapy regimen followed by consolidation radiotherapy at a dose of 36 Gy to bulky mediastinal disease and 30.6 Gy to the initial sites of disease ≥3 cm in transverse diameter. After the combined therapy, 46 of 48 (96%) achieved complete remissions. With a median follow-up of 48 months, the 5-year overall survival was 95% and freedom from progression 86%. There were no treatment-related deaths. All but one premenopausal female patient (who received pelvic and inguinal irradiation) recovered normal menses. Until now no case of secondary leukemia or myelodysplasia was observed. Our results confirm that the Stanford V regimen with consolidation radiotherapy is safe and effective in patients with bulky or advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease, achieving very high remission and overall 5-year survival rates. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the extent of all complications.