title: Low-dose interferon-alpha in stage-I multiple myeloma and in IgM monoclonal gammopathy. Eastern Cooperative Study Group on Monoclonal Gammopathies.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-alpha can induce objective responses in advanced-stage multiple myeloma (MM) and can delay disease progression in patients responsive to chemotherapy. We studied the effects of low-dose (3 MU daily) human recombinant IFN-alpha 2b for 6-12 months in 29 consecutive cases of previously untreated, stable-phase, early stage, monoclonal gammopathy (MG) (23 cases of stage I MM and six cases of IgM MG). In 25/29 patients, the disease remained stable throughout the study period. A major objective response was observed in one of five cases of IgA MG. Normal Ig levels increased in all five cases of IgA MG. A significant disease progression occurred in 2/29 cases during the 1-year study period. These data showed that the objective response rate of early-stage MG to low-dose IFN was low and suggested that further investigation should focus on IgA MG.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin