Recombinant alpha-2b-interferon in therapy of previously untreated hairy cell leukemia: long-term follow-up results of study by Cancer and Leukemia Group B.
In 1985, Cancer and Leukemia Group B initiated a multi-institutional study to define the role of interferon alpha in therapy of previously untreated active hairy cell leukemia (HCL). This is a long-term follow-up report of the study. Fifty-five evaluable patients were treated with recombinant interferon-2b 2 million units/m2 subcutaneously three times a week for 1 year. Treatment was well tolerated; toxicity mainly consisted of flu-like syndrome and pancytopenia, both of a transient nature. Seventy-three percent of patients had objective beneficial responses with 8.3 months median time to achieve at least a partial response (PR). After 1 year of therapy, the patients have been observed for a median of 5 years. There was a continual trend towards relapse throughout this period but 28% have remained in remission beyond 6 years. Forty-six patients (83%) are alive at 6 years. Among the 40 patients who achieved at least a PR, there were 28 with splenomegaly at the beginning of study: the spleen size was reduced in all with interferon alpha therapy and none required splenectomy. This study confirms the results of other investigators, and demonstrates that recombinant alpha interferon-2b is an effective agent for treatment of hairy cell leukemia.
Rai
K R
KR
Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.
Davey
F
F
Peterson
B
B
Schiffer
C
C
Silver
R T
RT
Ozer
H
H
Golomb
H
H
Bloomfield
C D
CD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins