THERAPY OF HODGKINS-DISEASE

Hodgkin's disease is curable by radio- and/or chemotherapy. In limited stages most patients are treated with radiotherapy alone, which results in a high cure rate. In intermediate stages a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is usually applied. Advanced stages are treated with polychemotherapy. MOPP/ABVD or related regimes (such as COPP/ABVD by the German Hodgkin's Study Group - GHSG) are standard regimens for these patients. However, about 50% of patients of this group will not be cured and attempts are made to improve treatment results by high-dose chemotherapy. Salvage therapy for relapsed patients including high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support frequently results in remission although duration is generally short. New strategies including immunotherapy to improve the results are highly warranted.