Effect of interferon-alpha in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in the accelerated phase: cytogenetic and molecular studies.
Human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in the benign stable phase. The present study indicates that IFN-alpha may have a suppressive effect on Ph1-positive clones not only in the early stable phase but also in the accelerated phase with additional chromosomal abnormalities in some patients. In this study, in addition to 5 benign-phase patients, 3 patients with CML in the accelerated phase who had additional chromosomal abnormalities were treated with IFN-alpha. The presence of the Ph1-positive clone was estimated by chromosomal analysis and by Southern analysis at the DNA level using a 3' breakpoint cluster region (bcr) probe. Hematological remission and the suppression of proliferation of Ph1-positive clone to various extents were achieved by IFN-alpha treatment in 2 benign-phase patients and 3 patients with additional chromosomal abnormalities. Interestingly, in one of the latter three patients, Ph1-positive clones with or without additional chromosomal abnormalities were completely suppressed judging from chromosomal analysis and from the disappearance of bcr gene rearrangements.
Ogura
H
H
Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Tokyo.
Tani
K
K
Kozai
Y
Y
Watari
K
K
Kodo
H
H
Ozawa
K
K
Asano
S
S
Takaku
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015465:Leukemia, Myeloid, Accelerated Phase / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D015466:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D007370:Interferon Type I; D004247:DNA