ABVD

Definition

Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine combination chemotherapy used for the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Characteristics

ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) is the most widely used regimen for the treatment of early and advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Treatment of patients with early stage classical HL evolved over the last three decades. Radiation therapy alone as the single treatment modality is no longer practiced. Today, the most widely used approach is combined modality therapy (chemotherapy plus involved field radiation therapy). In general, two (for favorable early stage) to four (for unfavorable early stage) cycles of ABVD plus 20 to 30 Gy of involved field radiation therapy is the most widely used standard of care approach. Using this approach, more than 90 % of the patients are expected to be cured of their disease. More recently, functional imaging is used to guide therapy aiming at eliminating the need...