Recombinant human interferon-alpha induced cytoreduction in chronic myelogenous leukemia

✍ Scribed by Werter, M. ;Witte, R. ;Janssen, J. ;Pauw, B. ;Haanen, C.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1988
• Weight: 365 KB
• Volume: 56
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1432-0584
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00320107

✦ Synopsis

Fourteen patients with Ph'-chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in first chronic phase were treated with recombinant interferon-alpha 2c. Interferon-alpha 2c 5 to 10 X 10(6) units s.c. was given for 12 weeks as an induction therapy. Maintenance treatment consisted of interferon-alpha 2c 5 X 10(6) units twice weekly s.c.. Two patients (14%) attained a complete clinical remission and 6 (43%) a partial remission, 3 of whom developed progressive disease during maintenance therapy. A complete disappearance of Ph'-chromosome was achieved in 1 patient. All patients had a more than 45% initial decline of the leukocyte count. Four out of ten patients with an initially enlarged spleen demonstrated reduction in spleen size. Influenza-like symptoms, anorexia, nausea, weight loss and fatigue were common side effects. Interferon-alpha is active in CML but additional clinical investigations are warranted to assess more precisely the therapeutic value of the interferons in this disease.