title: Combination of 13-cis retinoic acid and interferon-alpha in the treatment of recurrent or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
abstract: We previously reported the therapeutic efficacy of 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cRA) in some subtypes of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). This study sought to clarify if the addition of interferon-alpha2a (IFN-alpha2a), an agent with synergistic cytotoxicity with 13-cRA in many types of malignant cells, may be more effective in the treatment of PTCL. Eligible patients has histologically proven PTCL, which was recurrent after or refractory to anthracycline-containing systemic chemotherapy. The treatment included oral administration of 13-cRA 1 mg/kg/day, divided into three doses, and intramuscular injection of IFN-alpha2a 4.5 MU/M2, three times per week. From March 1995 to July 2000, a total of 17 patients, 10 men and 7 women, with a median age of 47 years (range, 18-77 years), were recruited. The histologic diagnosis included 7 cases of unspecified PTCL, 6 cases of Ki-1 anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), 1 case of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, and 3 cases of angiocentric nasal NK/T cell lymphoma. They received a median of 1.7 months of treatment (range, 0.4-13.3 months). One patient refused further treatment due to toxicity. The doses of 13-cRA and IFN-alpha2a had to be decreased in 7 and 7 patients, respectively. Grade III/IV hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity developed in 2 and 5 patients, respectively. There were 5 partial responses (Ki-1, 4; unspecified PTCL, 1), with a total response rate of 31.3% (95% CI, 5.7-56.8%). The median duration of response for the responders was 2.5 months (range, 0.8-7.2 months). The median overall survival for the entire group of patients was 3.6 months. In conclusion, a combination of 13-cRA and IFN-alpha2a is a useful salvage treatment for selected patients with recurrent or refractory PTCL, particularly those with the Ki-1 subtype. However, the data does not support that addition of IFN-alpha2a is superior to 13-cRA alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei.
authors.forename: Chin-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhong-Zhe
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ih-Jen
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Tsu-Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Hwei-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tien
authors.forename: Ming-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Che
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Woei-Yau
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jih-Luh
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Kun-Heui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chiu-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Mei-Yin
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ann-Lii
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015474:Isotretinoin