Specialized Treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are both effective methods of treating Hodgkin's disease. The role of each depends on the stage, or extent, of disease. For early stage Hodgkin's disease patients, Fox Chase physicians use a novel protocol using a shorter course of less toxic chemotherapy plus a smaller field of radiation therapy than has been typically used. For low-grade or indolent lymphomas, Fox Chase offers studies based on monoclonal antibodies, including radioactive antibodies and vaccines. One study uses a new agent, bryostatin, combined with fludarabine, to fight lymphoma.
Studies using novel chemotherapy combinations are also available.
Low-risk patients generally receive a standard combination of chemotherapy or may join an ECOG protocol using the same chemotherapy with or without the monoclonal antibody Rituxan. Patients who relapse have access to another high dose therapy trial with stem cell support or a study that uses estramustine plus paclitaxel. Stem cells are taken from a donor or from the patient, then frozen and stored. The patient then receives high-dose chemotherapy and sometimes radiation treatment. This destroys remaining cancer cells, but it also kills all normal cells in the bone marrow.