A Phase II Study VEPEMB In Patients With Hodgkin's Lymphoma Aged ≥ 60 Years; Vinblastine, Cyclophosphamide, Procarbazine, Prednisolone, Etoposide, Mitoxantrone, and Bleomycin in Treating Older Patients With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the efficacy and toxicity of vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, prednisolone, etoposide, mitoxantrone, and bleomycin in older patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. * Determine whether the application of the Hasenclever prognostic index is valid in these patients at diagnosis. OUTLINE: This is an open-label, multicenter study. * Chemotherapy: Patients receive vinblastine IV and cyclophosphamide IV on day 1; oral procarbazine and oral prednisolone on days 1-5; oral etoposide on days 15-19; and mitoxantrone IV and bleomycin IV on day 15. Treatment repeats every 28 days, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, for a total of 3 courses in patients with early (stage IA or IIA) disease or 6 courses in patients with advanced (stage IB or IIB-IV) disease. * Radiotherapy: Patients with early stage disease receive involved-field radiotherapy. Patients with advanced stage disease receive radiotherapy limited to sites of initial bulky disease or residual disease. Radiotherapy begins 4 weeks after the completion of chemotherapy. Patients are followed monthly for 3 months, every 3 months for 6 months, and then annually thereafter. Peer Reviewed and Funded or Endorsed by Cancer Research UK PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 150 patients will be accrued for this study within 36 months.