title: Interferon-α in acute myeloid leukemia: an old drug revisited.
abstract: Interferon-α (IFN-α), a type I IFN, is a well-known antitumoral agent. The investigation of its clinical properties in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been prompted by its pleiotropic antiproliferative and immune effects. So far, integration of IFN-α in the therapeutic arsenal against AML has been modest in view of the divergent results of clinical trials. Recent insights into the key pharmacokinetic determinants of the clinical efficacy of IFN along with advances in its pharmaceutical formulation, have sparked renewed interest in its use. This paper reviews the possible applicability of IFN-α in the treatment of AML and provides a rational basis to re-explore its efficacy in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anguille
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lion
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Willemen
authors.forename: V F I
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Van Tendeloo
authors.forename: Z N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Berneman
authors.forename: E L J M
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Smits
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha