Patients with early-staged Hodgkin's disease have had a higher relapse rate following radiotherapy alone if they have B symptoms, large mediastinal masses, hilar involvement, or stage III disease. From June 1988 to December 1989, 27 previously untreated patients with early-staged Hodgkin's disease with adverse features for disease-free survival received combined-modality therapy. Seventeen patients had stage I or II disease, 10 had stage III, 5 had B symptoms, 13 had large mediastinal masses, and 6 had peripheral masses measuring 10 cm or more in diameter. All patients initially received three cycles of a novel chemotherapeutic regimen combining Novantrone (mitoxantrone, American Cyanamid Company), vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone (NOVP). Twenty-four patients with clinically staged I or II disease with adverse features or stage III disease did not undergo laparotomy; three patients had favorable stage I or II disease and at laparotomy had stage III disease. Radiotherapy-treatment fields depended on the extent of nodal involvement. Twenty-six patients completed all therapy as planned to complete remission (CR) and one of these has had progression; she is in second CR following additional radiotherapy. With a median follow-up of 12 months, all patients are alive. Tolerance to treatment was excellent with only grade 1 or 2 nausea, alopecia and myalgias, and brief myelosuppression. NOVP is an effective adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for inducing responses, with minimal toxicity, prior to definitive radiotherapy for patients with early-staged Hodgkin's disease.