Regimen

ABVD (Doxorubicin + Bleomycin + Vinblastine + Dacarbazine)

Used For:

The ABVD regime is used in the first line treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Overview:

This regime combines 4 chemotherapeutic agents that work in different ways.
Doxorubicin is an anthracycline. Anthracyclines act on DNA, blocking its production and inhibiting the enzyme responsible for DNA repair. Doxorubicin acts on all cells, not just those actively dividing.
Bleomycin is an antineoplastic antibiotic. It attacks the DNA of dividing cells, creating breaks in the DNA, which then inhibit further production of DNA and cell division. Bleomycin is as a ôcell cycle specificö chemotherapeutic agent.
Vinblastine is a vinca alkaloid. It is a cell cycle specific agent that prevents the production of microtubules, which are vital in the physical separation of cells during cell division. Without microtubules, cell division cannot occur and the cell dies.
Dacarbazine is an alkylating agent. It interferes with cellular replication by forming cross-linkages between DNA strands.
The ABVD regime combines the mechanisms of action of these 4 agents to achieve a greater tumour cell-killing effect.