Mid- and post-ABVD gallium scanning predicts for recurrence in early-stage Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) for patients with Hodgkin's disease and to identify predictors of outcome with this regimen. METHODS: Between 1987 and 1998, 175 patients with Stage I-IV Hodgkin's disease received ABVD as part of initial treatment. Overall survival (OS), freedom-from-treatment-failure (FFTF), and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier technique. Log-rank tests were used to identify univariate predictors of OS, FFTF, and PFS. Specifically, restaging gallium scan results and clinical response after chemotherapy were separately evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 64 months. The 5-year OS, FFTF, and PFS rates were 90%, 85%, and 82%, respectively. For Stage I-II patients, restaging gallium scan results and clinical response after chemotherapy were highly predictive of OS, FFTF, and PFS (p < 0.0001). Other significant predictors for higher OS included age <50 (p = 0.002), female gender (p = 0.047), and absence of B symptoms (p = 0.043). Of the 20 patients with a positive restaging gallium scan, 4 received high-dose therapy and 16 continued with conventional-dose therapy or received no further treatment. Of these 16 patients, 11 (69%) were disease-free at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although a positive mid- or postchemotherapy gallium scan was an adverse prognostic factor for OS, FFTF, and PFS, continued treatment with conventional-dose therapy may be adequate in selected patients with positive scans.