Phase III Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Involved-Field Radiotherapy vs No Adjuvant Therapy Following Remission Induction With MOPP/ABV Hybrid Chemotherapy in Patients With Stage III/IV Hodgkin's Disease

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare relapse-free survival and overall survival of patients with Stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease randomly assigned to adjuvant involved-field radiotherapy vs. no adjuvant therapy following remission induction with MOPP/ABV (nitrogen mustard/vincristine/procarbazine/prednisone/doxorubicin/bleomycin/vinblastine). II. Evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of MOPP/ABV hybrid chemotherapy in advanced Hodgkin's disease. III. Evaluate the prognostic significance of an early response to MOPP/ABV in patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease. OUTLINE: Study randomized for adjuvant radiotherapy. All patients receive Induction chemotherapy on Regimen A, following which those in CR are randomized on Arms I and II. Regimen A: 7-Drug Combination Chemotherapy. MOPP/ABV Hybrid. Mechlorethamine, NM, NSC-762; Vincristine, VCR, NSC-67574; Procarbazine, PCB, NSC-77213; Prednisone, PRED, NSC-10023; Doxorubicin, DOX, NSC-123127; Bleomycin, BLEO, NSC-125066; Vinblastine, VBL, NSC-49842. Arm I: Radiotherapy. Involved-field irradiation using megavoltage equipment. Arm II: No further therapy. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: 321 evaluable patients will be required; an annual accrual rate of 80 patients is anticipated.