title: Interferon-alpha after autologous stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Thirteen children with refractory or recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) received high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT). After hematologic recovery, 10 patients were given interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) as adjuvant therapy, starting at a dose of 0.5 x 10(6) U/m2 subcutaneously, three times a week. The dose was escalated as tolerated. Patients were treated for a median of 12 (4-24) months. Transient myelosuppression was the most common toxicity and led to temporary treatment interruption in five patients. The IFN-alpha dose was increased in nine patients, to a median final dose of 3.5 x 10(6) U/m2/week. With a median follow-up of 67 (range 25-114) months, nine of the 10 patients are alive and in continuous remission. One patient relapsed. Three patients were not treated with IFN-alpha initially, two because of rapidly progressive disease. One patient received IFN-alpha for treatment of relapse after transplant, and is alive in remission 10 years later. IFN-alpha has activity in children with advanced HL, and prolonged, low-dose treatment given after ASCT can be tolerated. Its therapeutic effect as a post-transplant adjuvant warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petropoulos
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choroszy
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha