Current Stanford Clinical Trials for Hodgkin’s Disease

Abstract

Prospective randomized clinical trials for Hodgkin’s disease were initiated at Stanford University by Dr. Henry S. Kaplan and Dr. Saul A. Rosenberg in 1962. In the subsequent 25 years, nearly 1000 patients have been accrued to four generations of clinical trials. In addition, during the same period, a similar number of patients were treated with programs identical to those used on the clinical trials, but were not assigned by randomization (Table 1). Each generation of clinical trials has built strongly upon the experience obtained in the preceding trials and has also incorporated new concepts in Hodgkin’s disease management developed by other investigators. The use of standardized treatment programs among the nonrandomized patients and the careful follow-up of all patients permit evaluation of the entire cohort of nearly 2000 patients for identification of prognostic factors, longterm complications of therapy, etc.

Supported in part by Grant CA 34233 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Rosenberg is an American Cancer Society Clinical Professor of Medicine.