A trial comparing Stanford V chemotherapy with ABVD chemotherapy for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma

The trial team found that Stanford V combination chemotherapy with radiotherapy was no better than ABVD with radiotherapy for people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.

520 people took part in this trial

• Half had ABVD chemotherapy
• Half had Stanford V chemotherapy

After chemotherapy, some patients went on to have radiotherapy.

The trial team analysed the results in 2009. They looked at how well the treatment worked and how many people lived for five years after treatment. They found no difference between the 2 different groups.

The most common side effect in both groups was a drop in blood cell counts. People in the ABVD group had more lung problems.

The trial team concluded that there was no evidence that adding more chemotherapy drugs to the standard ABVD combination with radiotherapy helped to treat advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.

We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.