Achievement and maintenance of complete remission in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia after weekly administration of interleukin-2.
Several groups have used high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), achieving a significant rate of responses in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). These results have mainly been observed in AML patients with limited disease (bone marrow blasts < 25%), but this therapy is associated with significant toxicity which is dose-related. In this report we describe a patient with AML in whom conventional chemotherapy had achieved partial remission. This patient received subcutaneously intermediate doses of IL-2 (12 x 10(6)/m2/week) and achieved complete remission which was maintained for eleven months. The side effects of IL-2 were mild. The results of this report document the antileukemic effect of IL-2 in AML with limited disease as well as the efficacy of subcutaneous maintenance treatment for prolonged periods.
Speletas
M
M
Department of Hematology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Ritis
K
K
Bourikas
G
G
D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins