Autologous marrow transplantation in the treatment of MOPP and ABVD resistant Hodgkins disease

ABSTRACT

Six patients with disseminated Hodgkin's disease resistant to MOPP [mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisolone], and ABVD [adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine] chemotherapy were treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous marrow transplantation. The patients first underwent marrow aspiration and storage for subsequent autologous bone marrow transplantation [ABMT]. Three patients remain alive in unmaintained complete remission [CR] at 18,17, and 15 months after transplant. In the other three patients, reasons for failure included relapse in two patients after 7 and 8 months, and death after 6 months due to pulmonary infection [pneumonia]. These results demonstrate that some patients with MOPP, ABVD and other salvage chemotherapy [SC]-resistant Hodgkin's disease can obtain prolonged complete remission following intensive chemotherapy and autologous marrow transplantation