Vinblastine in the treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease

In 35 cases of advanced Hodgkin's disease (stage IIIB to IVB), of whom 33 were no longer responsive to the alkylating agents, vinblastine produced clinically useful remissions in 22 patients or 64%. Complete objective responses were unusual but one third of these cases experienced partial remissions of more than 1 year's duration accompanied by marked amelioration of symptoms. Serious toxicity was not encountered. There was no relationship between vinblastine response and prior responses to the alkylating agents. Despite the disadvantage of being secondary therapy, vinblastine appeared superior to the alkylating agents in the quality and length of remissions it produced.