title: Effect of interferon-alpha 2a on malignant mesothelioma.
abstract: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a tumor that is resistant to conventional therapy. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been used in the treatment of some human tumors, and we have previously demonstrated an in vitro anti-proliferative effect of IFN against MM cell lines. Therefore, the effect of recombinant human IFN-alpha (IFN-alpha 2a) (Roferon-A, Hoffmann-La Roche) on previously untreated patients with MM has been studied. Twenty-five patients (24 male and 1 female), with a mean age of 59 +/- 9.9 years, were treated for 3 months with IFN-alpha 2a. The starting dose was 3 x 10(6) IU daily increasing to a maximum of 18 x 10(6) IU daily or as tolerated. All patients had measurable tumor on thoracic CT prior to commencement. CT scans were performed at 6 and 12 weeks to determine tumor response. Twenty patients completed 3 months of treatment. Five patients were withdrawn because of disease progression. Side effects were predictable and dose related. Dose reductions were necessary in 12 patients for grade 2 toxicity. One patient had a complete response (CR), 2 patients had partial responses (PR) (response rate = 12%), 13 (52%) patients remained stable, 1 of whom exhibited a delayed PR, and 9 (36%) had progressive disease. These data suggest that IFN-alpha 2a is well tolerated in patients with MM and is active against MM in a proportion of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Christmas
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Garlepp
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Musk
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins