title: Interferon alfa-2a (Roferon-A) monotherapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia: a pilot study in Nigerian patients in early chronic phase.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of interferon alfa-2a monotherapy was evaluated in seventeen Nigeria patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). Male and female patients with a mean age of 34.5 +/- 10.6 years were recruited into the study. Interferon therapy was administered at a maintenance dose of 9 MIU daily for 12 months. Efficacy was evaluated by assessing both haematologic and cytogenetic response, tolerability by incidence of adverse events and safety by laboratory haematological and biochemical indices. At the end of 12 months of therapy 6 patients (54.4%) had complete haematologic remission whilst 3 patients (100% of those evaluated) showed partial cytogenetic remission. The incidence of adverse event was 70% and the monitored haematologic and biochemical indices were not adversely affected by treatment. In conclusion, the study clearly demonstrated a significant benefit of interferon alpha-2a in the management of Nigerian patients with CML. The changes in the haematological and cytogenetic profiles between baseline and term were significant (p < 0.05). However, it is imperative and important to encourage and continue monitoring of the responding and stabilized patients beyond 12 months in order to demonstrate sustained response. The drug was reasonably well tolerated, however life threatening pancytopenia may pose a major problem in certain cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Okanny
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Durosimi
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chukwuani
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Akinola
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Herrada
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Ogbe
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Onwukeme
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Faluyi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Akanmu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akinsete
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D003582:Cytogenetics; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins