Excerpts The American Society of Hematology 43rd Annual Meeting Day 1 - December 7, 2001 Current Controversies in Hodgkin's Lymphoma Alexandra M. Levine, MD New ideas in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease (HD) were presented during the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Hematology Society. This article will discuss some of the more controversial trials and outcomes. Study Design Patients with clinical stage IIB/IIIA HD with poor prognostic risk factors, clinical stage IIIB HD, or clinical stage IV HD were randomized to 8 cycles of COPP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone)/ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine), which included 4 cycles of COPP alternating with 4 cycles of ABVD (n = 260); 8 cycles of BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) (n = 469); or 8 cycles of escalated-dose BEACOPP (n = 466). Study Results The COPP/ABVD arm was closed prematurely, due to relative lack of efficacy when compared with the other treatment groups. During the discussion period, the issue of fertility was raised. While patients who receive more chemotherapy are expected to be at greater risk for infertility, apparently some men are now becoming fertile once again, even 5 years after completion of chemotherapy. Thus, the actual risk of infertility among patients in these 3 groups is not yet known. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.