A 40-year-old male complained about enlarged/swollen lymph nodes in the neck reg

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).

a. Describe the mechanism of action of each agent in the ABVD regimen?

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?

Explanation / Answer

a) Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin hydrochloride, vinblastine, and dacarbazine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading.

b) Treatment of lymphoma with single drug may develop drug resistance. Combined agents also may minimize the adverse effects of each individual agent.

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