Background: Evidence is recently accumulating that the novel BEACOPP (bleomycin (B), etoposide (E), adriamycin (A), cyclophosphamide (C), vincristine (O), procarbazine (P), prednisone (P)) chemotherapy is a highly effective treatment for advanced stage Hodgkin's disease. Two dose variants of BEACOPP are currently tested in a phase III randomized multicenter trial of the GHSG. To enable more extensive testing of BEACOPP we characterized its practicability regarding schedule adherence, acute hematotoxicity and need for supportive treatment.
Patients and methods: Data of 858 patients (6592 therapy cycles) from 184 participating institutions were evaluated. Planned total drug doses of the baseline variant (arm 1) were 80, 2400, 200, 5200, 11.2, 5600 and 4480 mg/m2 for B, E, A, C, O, P and P, respectively. Compared to arm 1, the doses of E, A and C in the dose-intensified variant (arm 2) were escalated by factor 2.0, 1.4, 1.92, respectively, using G-CSF assistance. Stepwise dose reductions were specified in case of dose-limiting toxicities. Both variants are given in eight three-weekly courses.
Results: Median dose adherence (dose actually given relative to planned arm 1 dose) in arm 1 was 1.0 for all drugs. Relative dose escalation of E, A, and C actually maintained in arm 2 was 1.83, 1.37 and 1.77 (medians), respectively, and 70% of patients maintained elevated dose levels throughout the entire treatment. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in 25% of cycles in arm 2, most frequently due to leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Time courses of leukocytes in arm 2 showed more severe but not more prolonged leukocytopenia compared with arm 1. WHO grades 3-4 infections were documented in 2.1% (arm 1) and 3.1% (arm 2) of all cycles. Erythrocytes were transfused in 61% (arm 1) and 28% (arm 2), platelets in < 1% (arm 1) and 6% (arm 2) of all cycles.
Conclusions: Both BEACOPP schemes are practicable in a large multicenter setting. Despite increased hematotoxicity, moderate dose escalation is safe for the majority of the patients with G-CSF assistance and standard supportive treatment.