title: Cytoreductive effect of recombinant alpha interferon in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.
abstract: In an attempt to reduce myeloproliferation, we administered recombinant alpha-2b interferon (r-alpha INF) to ten patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) in a hypercellular phase, as part of a phase II trial. Two patients experienced severe side effects and stopped treatment before completion of the first week. In the eight evaluable patients, r-alpha INF was given for 16 weeks at an initial dosage of 3 X 10(6) U/day, with monthly increments in the case of response failure, i.e. a decrease in WBC or platelet count of less than 25% of the initial value. Two cases responded at the starting dosage, while the effective dosage was 5 X 10(6) U/day in the others. At the end of the 16th week, Hb showed minor changes: from an initial value of 12.08 g/dl, range 8.3-17.3, to 11.6 g/dl, range 7.7-18 (P = 0.12); WBC were reduced from 54 X 10(9)/l, range 6.4-69.4, to 17.5 X 10(9)/l, range 5-39 (P = 0.09, 4/8 responses); platelets decreased from 775 X 10(9)/l, range 215-1748, to 403 X 10(9)/l, range 118-730 (P = 0.008, 8/8 responses). Minor changes in spleen size were also noted, while no significant changes in bone marrow fibrosis occurred. Influenza-like symptoms and fatigue were common side effects. In conclusion, r-alpha INF has a role as a non-leukemogenic cytoreductive agent in the therapy of MMM, especially for cases with thrombocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, Sezione Clinica Medica 2, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barosi
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Liberato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ascari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins