title: A phase II study alternating alpha-2a-interferon and gamma-interferon therapy in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: Patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were treated with a combination of alpha-interferon and gamma-interferon. Recombinant alpha-2a-interferon (Roferon-A, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc., Nutley, NJ) and recombinant gamma-interferon (Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) were administered on alternating weeks each at doses ranging from 2 to 10 MU/m2 given intramuscularly. Of the 27 patients, 11 (41%) achieved complete hematologic remission (CHR) and 3 (11%) achieved partial hematologic remission (PHR). Responses were seen among 9 of 22 (41%) patients treated during the chronic phase of the disease and in 2 of 5 (40%) patients treated during the accelerated phase/second chronic phase. Cytogenetic responses were seen in six patients, including one complete response and five minor responses. Toxicities included flu-like symptoms, which appeared to be more severe with gamma-interferon than with alpha-interferon, hypertriglyceridemia, and thrombocytopenia. In this limited study, an improved outcome was not observed for the combination regimen compared with alpha-interferon alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talpaz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurzrock
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saks
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Gutterman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma