VIM-D salvage chemotherapy in Hodgkin's disease.

A total of 15 patients with relapsed or resistant Hodgkin's disease were treated with a combination of etoposide (VP16), ifosfamide, mitozantrone and dexamethasone (VIM-D). The regime was well tolerated, the only major toxicity being myelosuppression. Complete remissions (CRs) were obtained in 4 patients and were maintained for 2, 4, 10 and 14 months. 10 subjects subsequently received an autologous bone marrow transplant with high-dose chemotherapy (ABMT). Previous exposure to VIM-D did not appear to predict for or prejudice the response to subsequent ABMT.