title: Phase II trials of interferons-alpha and -beta in advanced sarcomas.
abstract: Interferons (IFNs)-alpha and -beta were administered to patients with metastatic sarcomas in two different Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group studies. In one study, patients received IFN-alpha 2b, 20 million units/m2 i.v. 5 days/week x 4, then 10 million units s.c.t.i.w. In the second study, patients received IFN-beta ser 180 million units t.i.w. Of 87 patients evaluable for response, there were three responses in 64 patients (5%) treated with IFN-alpha-2b and no responses in 23 patients treated with IFN-beta ser. Severe or life-threatening fatigue with decline in performance status complicated treatment of 37% of patients receiving IFN-alpha 2b and 17% of patients receiving IFN-beta ser. Further investigation of IFNs in sarcomas should depend on evidence from preclinical studies demonstrating synergistic effects of IFNs combined with a cytoreductive modality which has proven activity in these malignancies.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, Madison 53792.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Borden
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Tormey
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Comis
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Parkinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a