Treatment of high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with lymphoblastoid alpha interferon.
Seventeen patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) received lymphoblastoid-interferon alpha (Ly-IFN alpha) for 3 months at escalating doses from 0.5 to 3 MU s.c. 3 times per week. Three patients stopped the treatment after 2 months because of cardiac failure (one patient) and cerebral haemorrhage (two patients); six had a partial response (PR) and continued Ly-IFN alpha; six were resistant and stopped Ly-IFN alpha; two evolved to acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). Among the six partial responders, four achieved a complete response (CR) during subsequent Ly-IFN alpha treatment (CR duration 3, 4+, 15+ and 29 months) and two did not achieve any further improvement (PR duration 3 and 9 months). Two resistant patients had an unexpected clinical improvement soon after Ly-IFN alpha discontinuation and achieved a PR of 6+ and 14+ months respectively. No toxicity related to Ly-IFN alpha treatment was observed and no reduction of dosage was needed.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Ly-IFN alpha seems to be effective in some patients with HR-MDS; (2) the best treatment duration seems to be of a least 6 months.
Human Biopathology Department, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
M C
MC
Petti
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R
Latagliata
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G
Avvisati
M A
MA
Spiriti
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E
Montefusco
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A
Spadea
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F
Mandelli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013812:Therapeutics
D016898:Interferon-alpha