title: Prospective randomised study of double hemi-body irradiation with and without subsequent maintenance recombinant alpha 2b interferon on survival in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.
abstract: Immediately before first hemi-body irradiation, 59 patients with relapsed multiple myeloma were randomised to receive or not to receive subsequent alpha-2b interferon maintenance. 13 patients (22%) [8 of 31 (26%) controls, 5 of 28 (18%) in the interferon arm] received single hemi-body irradiation alone due to progressive disease and/or persistent cytopoenias following the initial procedure. Mean time between upper and lower hemi-body irradiation was 69 days (range 35-294). Of 23 patients randomised to receive interferon and completing double hemi-body irradiation, 15 (65%) achieved peripheral blood counts adequate to allow interferon administration as per study criteria commencing at a mean 116 days (61-241) from time of study entry. The mean period of interferon therapy, starting at a mean 65 days (26-160) post second hemi-body irradiation, is 16.4 months (2-33.5). There was no significant difference in median survival durations (10 months) from time of initial radiotherapy between control and interferon patients.
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital, London.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: McSweeney
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gaminara
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Newland
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins