title: Recombinant alpha-2-interferon for hairy cell leukemia.
abstract: Twenty-two patients with hairy cell leukemia were treated with biosynthetic (recombinant) alpha-2-interferon in an open-label, single-arm efficacy study. Patients received 2 X 10(6) U/m2 recombinant alpha-2-interferon three times weekly. Therapy was well tolerated subjectively with minimal short-term hematologic toxicity. Two patients had bacterial infections during the period of study, and one patient experienced a short-lived readily reversible rejection of a corneal transplant. Statistical comparison of the mean hematologic indices at study entry and after three to six months of therapy with recombinant alpha-2-interferon indicates a significant improvement in hemoglobin, granulocyte, and platelet counts. Bone marrow biopsies in six of 14 patients after six months of therapy showed a greater than 50% decrease in the infiltration of leukemia cells. We conclude that recombinant alpha-2-interferon is highly effective therapy for hairy cell leukemia.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I