title: Australian Leukaemia Study Group myeloma II: a randomized trial of intensive combination chemotherapy with or without interferon in patients with myeloma.
abstract: The Australian Leukaemia Study Group has performed a randomized trial of interferon alpha-2A (Roferon-A) as a co-induction agent together with intensive combination chemotherapy and as maintenance following completion of 12 cycles of induction treatment. When used as a co-induction agent, interferon-alpha did not improve response rates, time-to-treatment failure, or overall survival. Patients who had interferon together with intensive combination therapy (PCAB: prednisone 60 mg/m2 days 1-5, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 day 1, BCNU 30 mg/m2 day 1, doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 day 1, repeated every 28 d for a total of 12 cycles) had more leucocyte and granulocyte toxicity and received a lower dose intensive of cytotoxic drugs than those patients who received PCAB without interferon. There was a trend towards prolongation of plateau phase which did not reach significance. Interferon, however, did improve the survival of patients who achieved plateau; for those patients interferon was associated with a 33% decrease in the rate of death after adjusting for initial beta-2 microglobulin level.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Joshua
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penny
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Laidlaw
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bradstock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002330:Carmustine; D011241:Prednisone