The Response of Hodgkin's Disease to Treatment with Oral Vinblastine Sulfate

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Eighty-two patients with disseminated Hodgkin''s disease were treated with 1 of 5 oral doses of vinblastine sulfate (VLB) (.05, 0.75, .10, .15, and 0.20 mgm/kg/day). Therapeutic responses were observed at all dose levels. The overall response rate was 39/82 (51%), whereas the remission rate was 31/82 (41%). Patients who responded to therapy manifested evidence of improvement during the 1st 21 days of therapy. Maximum improvement lasted for as little as 2 weeks to as long as 1-1/4 years (median 3-1/2 months). The highest response rates were not observed with the largest toxic doses. The most effective dose appears to range from 0.75 to 0.10 mgm/kg/day. Hematopathy gastroenteropathy and neuropathy were the major toxic effects attributed to vinblastine sulfate therapy. Cessation of therapy was followed by prompt amelioration of toxic manifestations. The 42-day maximum tolerated dose for 80% of the population with Hodgkin''s disease (42-day MTD80) appears to be 0.1 mgm/kg/day. The oral administration of vinblastine sulfate appears effective in the control of patients with disseminated Hodgkin''s disease. In comparison with other drugs and therapeutic regimens, the incidence and reversibility of the toxic manifestation from oral VLB therapy would indicate this to be a relatively safe regimen.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: