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Cochrane Evaluates 2 Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma Regimens
Cochrane; 2017 May 25; Skoetz, Will, Monsef, et al
First-line chemotherapy with escalated bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone (BEACOPP) can improve survival in patients with early unfavorable and advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a Cochrane review of 5 studies involving more than 3,400 individuals.
The studies compared BEACOPP with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine. Among the findings:
- Patients who were given chemotherapy that included BEACOPP escalated experienced better overall survival.
- They also had a better chance of avoiding tumor recurrence.
- There was no difference in treatment-related mortality between the 2 regimens.
- Patients receiving BEACOPP were at higher risk of secondary acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
- BEACOPP escalated tended to cause more adverse events such as anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and infections.
- Quality of life was not assessed in the evaluated trials.
Skoetz N, Will A, Monsef I, Brillant C, Engert A, von Tresckow B. Comparison of first-line chemotherapy including escalated BEACOPP versus chemotherapy including ABVD for people with early unfavourable or advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD007941. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007941.pub3.