title: Alpha-interferon as induction and maintenance therapy in hairy cell leukemia: a long-term follow-up analysis.
abstract: Although in recent years the use of purine analogues has increased the percentage of long-term complete response the effect on overall survival of patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is not yet clear. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome (mean follow up of 92 months) of 64 patients receiving IFN as first-line therapy. IFN was well tolerated and effective. The overall response rate was 91% (PR 65%, CR 13%, GPR 13%). Forty-one patients (63%) received IFN 3 MU/ wk as maintenance therapy. The 10-yr projected survival rate of responding patients (CR and GPR 100%; PR 95%) and non-responders (SD, PD 80%) clearly shows that type of response does not affect survival. Patients receiving IFN maintenance had a statistically higher PFS than those who did not (p <0.01). This study shows that IFN is still one of the standard therapies for this disease, that achieving CR has no primary relevance for the control of the disease, and that good utilization of therapeutic resources may assure HCL patients a survival rate comparable to that of a normal, healthy population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Azienda Ospedale S Martino e Cliniche Universitaire Convenzionate, Genova, Italy. edamasio@smartino.ge.it
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Damasio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clavio
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Masoudi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isaza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spriano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casciaro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siccardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013156:Splenectomy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha