Continuous complete hematological and cytogenetic remission with molecular minimal residual disease 9 years after discontinuation of interferon-alpha in a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.
Interferon-alpha has been used as standard therapy for patients with Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for more than 20 years. Recently randomized trials have shown a superiority of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib in respect to its efficacy to induce complete hematological and cytogenetic remissions and more importantly in overall survival. Although follow-up is much shorter for imatinib than for interferon-alpha, this data changed the treatment algorithms in this disease. At the end of the era of interferon-alpha as a single-drug first-line treatment for most patients we present a case report which exemplifies a rare but exciting property of interferon-alpha in CML: the induction of complete hematological and cytogenetic remissions which can persist over years after discontinuation of the drug. Hence, the enrollment of CML patients in clinical trials which explore a combination treatment of imatinib and interferon-alpha is warranted.
Verbeek
W
W
Medizinische Klinik I, Maria Hilf Kliniken GmbH, Mönchengladbach, Germany. verbeekw@mariahilf.de
König
H
H
Boehm
J
J
Kohl
D
D
Lange
C
C
Heuer
T
T
Scheibenbogen
C
C
Reis
H-E
HE
Hochhaus
A
A
Graeven
U
U
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha