Interferon therapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Interferon (IFN)-alpha, the molecule used in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and initially prepared from human leucocytes,is now produced essentially by recombinant techniques. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) modifications of proteins could be more effective than the regular molecules; thus, pegylated IFNs more recently have been tested in chronic myelogenous leukemia. PEG modification of proteins reduces sensitivity to proteolysis. Moreover,administration of pegylated IFNs results in less antigenicity and immunogenicity, and prolongation of their plasma half-life has been assessed by pharmacokinetic studies. It is assumed, therefore, that this compound could be more effective and better tolerated. Given the results recently obtained with imatinib, however, whether IFN-alpha will still have a therapeutic role is questionable.
Department of Oncology-Hematology and Cell Therapy, CHU La Milétrie, 2 Rue de la Milètrie, 86021 Poitiers, France. f.guilhot@chu-poitiers.fr
François
F
Guilhot
Lydia
L
Roy
Joëlle
J
Guilhot
Fredéric
F
Millot
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016898:Interferon-alpha