Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Male Patients With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES:

* Determine the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy comprising vincristine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, prednisone, and doxorubicin hydrochloride (VECOPA) in pediatric male patients with previously untreated stage II-IV classic Hodgkin's lymphoma. * Compare the effects of VECOPA vs cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine hydrochloride, and prednisone (COPP) in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a pilot, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to disease stage (IA/B\[E\], IIA\[E\], IIB, or IIIA vs IIB\[E\], IIIA/B\[E\], IIIB, or IVA/B).

* Stratum 1 (stages IA/B\[E\], IIA\[E\], IIB, or IIIA): Patients receive oral prednisone on days 1-15, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, and 15, doxorubicin hydrochloride IV over 4 hours on days 1 and 15, and etoposide IV over 2 hours on days 2-6 (OEPA). Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 2 courses. Beginning at week 9, patients receive VECOPA chemotherapy comprising oral prednisone on days 1-14 and 21-34, etoposide IV over 2 hours on days 1-3, doxorubicin hydrochloride IV over 2 hours on day 21, vinblastine IV and cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 21, and vincristine IV on days 8 and 29. Patients then undergo radiotherapy. * Stratum 2 (stages IIB\[E\], IIIA/B\[E\], IIIB, or IVA/B): Patients receive 2 courses of OEPA as in stratum 1 followed by 2 courses of VECOPA (6-week courses). Patients then undergo radiotherapy.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for at least 6 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 30 patients will be accrued for this study.