title: Comparison of interferon tolerance after autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplants for myeloma patients who have responded to induction therapy.
abstract: Interferon (INF) has been incorporated as part of maintenance therapy after high dose treatment in order to make remissions more durable. In this study we have compared peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) versus autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) with respect to INF tolerance. Thirty nine PBSCT patients have been compared to 37 ABMT patients for INF tolerance. This is followed by a comparison of 15 PBSCT patients versus 21 ABMT patients for engraftment details, response and survival. INF was started at a median of 61 days in the PBSCT and 58 days in the ABMT patients (P = NS). It was well tolerated in both groups without a significant difference in toxicity in the two arms. Engraftment was more rapid in the PBSCT patients with platelet recovery being significantly faster. Response and survival showed a favourable trend for ABMT patients though statistical significance was not reached and the cost of PBSCT was 12% cheaper. We were thus able to conclude that PBSCT grafts were as durable and could tolerate INF just as well as ABMT. Engraftment was more rapid and the procedure of PBSCT was also cheaper. Further studies with a larger group of patients will be required before comments on the efficacy of treatment can be made.
authors.affiliation: Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Powles
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raje
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hickish
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treleaven
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008558:Melphalan