Question

A 40-year-old male complained about enlarged/swollen lymph nodes in the neck region and underarms with intermittent fevers and night sweats. Biopsy of the tissue suggested the presence of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The standard therapeutic regimen for Hodgkin’s lymphoma is known as the ABVD regimen (doxorubicin [ADRIAMYCIN], bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine).

b. How is using a combination of cytotoxic drugs such as the ABVD regimen benefits over the purpose of single-agent therapies?

c. What could be the possible primary toxicities of the regimen?

Answer 1

Doxorubicin has it's mechanism of action as it interacts with DNA and inhibits micromolecular biosynthesis.it is a chemotherapy regimen used in first line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

ABVD is active and less toxic and less carcenogenic when compared with MOPP, it is most commonly used treatment in localised and well advanced disease. Even the fertility is preserved after the treatment with ABVD when compared with MOPP. Wide variety of alternative regimens were developed and compared but they have not shown any superior than ABVD .

Long term toxicity of ABDV include pulmonary toxicity and less or few sterility.