Recombinant alpha-interferon as salvage therapy in multiple myeloma. A pilot study.
Ten patients with end-stage multiple myeloma refractory to conventional chemotherapy and hemibody irradiation received recombinant alpha-interferon as salvage therapy. The median duration of treatment was 8 weeks. One patient had an objective response and survived 8 months, whereas in the remaining 9 patients the disease progressed and median survival was 11.5 weeks. Side-effects were substantial and included confusion with extreme weakness, resulting in 5 patients refusing further therapy. The low response rate and the morbidity in this pilot study resulted in its discontinuation and the conclusion that recombinant alpha-interferon as single-agent therapy used for salvage in patients with refractory myeloma is of no value.
University of Cape Town Leukaemia Centre, Groote Schuur Hospital.
P
P
Jacobs
I M
IM
Le Roux
L
L
Wood
H S
HS
King
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins