The outcome of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has markedly improved over the last few decades, placing HL among the human cancers with highest cure rates. However, data about treatment outcomes in developing countries are scarce. From 1996 to 2005, 370 consecutive patients with HL treated in three public institutions in Rio de Janeiro were identified. A total of 216 patients who presented with advanced stage (IIB-IV) HL were selected for the present analysis. Patients with advanced disease were treated with ABVD, complemented or not by radiation therapy. The median follow-up time of survivors was 6.3 years (1-11.8). Fifteen patients died during first-line treatment. The complete remission rate was 80%. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and the 5-year overall survival (OS) probabilities were 69% and 83%, respectively. The 5-year PFS in low-risk and high-risk patients were 81% and 62% (p=0.003), respectively. The 5-year OS in low-risk and high-risk International Prognostic Score patients were 89% and 78% (p=0.02), respectively. The present study provides a representative estimate of current treatment results for advanced HL in public institutions in an urban area in Brazil. It is clear that full treatment can be given to most patients, although those with very low socio-economic status might require special attention and support. Since Brazil is a large country, with substantial interregional heterogeneity, a nationwide registry of HL patients is currently being implemented.
Hodgkin disease; chemotherapy; lymphoma
