title: Interferon alfa therapy in an infant with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: We describe an infant with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML), the diagnosis of which was made by the characteristic clinical and hematologic findings. The absence of a related HLA-compatible donor for bone marrow transplantation coupled with the awareness that chemotherapy is usually ineffective prompted our decision to treat the patient with lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha [alpha(Ly)-IFN]. During the 26-month course of treatment with alpha(Ly)-IFN an incomplete regression of hematologic and clinical findings was achieved. The above results, along with the easy administration and absence of considerable side effects, suggest that alpha(Ly)-IFN may be a useful therapeutic tool in patients affected by JCML awaiting bone marrow transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toraldo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vetrano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pistoia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tolone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Avanzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iafusco
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016898:Interferon-alpha