Evalúan la quimioterapia con vinblastina, bleomicina y metotrexato en el linfoma de Hodgkin

Background: VBM chemotherapy (vinblastine, bleomycin and methotrexate) plus irradiation is an effective therapeutic combination in early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, but conflicting results have been collected on the toxicity of and correct indication for this combination. Patients and methods: The GISL treated 169 evaluable patients with early-stage, favorable presentation Hodgkin's disease in two successive trials. In the first (MH-1), conducted between 1988-1995, 87 patients were administered the original VBM schedule coupled with extended-field radiotherapy (EF-RT). In the subsequent study (MH-1b), performed between 1996-2004, the doses of vinblastine and methotrexate were intensified, the dose of bleomycin was reduced, and small amounts of prednisone were given contemporaneously with any infusion of antitumoral drug (VbMp); irradiation was delivered to involved sites only and had to begin at least 25 days after the end of chemotherapy. Of the 82 patients treated with the MH-1b protocol, 67 were <65 years old (MH-1b ≤ 65) and 15 were > 65 years old (MH-1b > 65). Results: Complete remission was achieved by 96, 91 and 80% of the patients in the MH-1, MH-1b ≤ 65 and MH-1b > 65 trials, respectively; relapse rates were 12, 9 and 0%, with median follow-ups of 111, 55 and 49 months. Hematological and pulmonary toxicity were acceptable on the whole in the MH-1 group, but more severe when chemotherapy followed radiotherapy than vice versa. In the MH-1b ≤ 65 both these toxicities were abated, while in the MH-1b > 65 severe infections affected 3/15 patients. Conclusions: VbMp followed by involved-field radiotherapy shows negligible hematological and pulmonary toxicity. The modified protocol appeared as effective as the original VBM + EF-RT protocol, with minimal and not statistically significant differences. The addition of cyclophosphamide to VbMp is under investigation to improve the cell-killing potential of the regimen. The purpose is to cure even early unfavorable presentations of the disease maintaining radiotherapy to involved sites only and avoiding the risk of late cardiotoxicity given by combinations including anthracyclines.