Vinblastine treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Selected observations of vinca alkaloid dose schedules in man and animals

Vinblastine, 0.3 mg/kg, was given every 2 wk for 4 mth to 8 patients with Stages IIIB and IV Hodgkin's disease who had received no prior therapy. There was a complete remission in 3 patients and a partial remission in 2. Moderate bone marrow toxicity (no white blood cell count less than 1000) occurred in 3 patients. Marked neurotoxicity was seen in all 5 patients who obtained a tumor response, but not in those whose Hodgkin's disease failed to respond. In addition, several patients who experienced marked neurotoxicity following vinblastine were able later to receive the usually more neurotoxic drug, vincristine, without developing neuropathy. Other modifications in dose and schedule of the vinca alkaloids may minimize toxicity and provide for improved therapeutic ratio.