title: Recombinant interferon-α may retard progression of early primary myelofibrosis: a preliminary report.
abstract: The limited effects of current treatments of primary myelofibrosis (PM) led us to prospectively evaluate recombinant interferon-α (rIFNα) in "early" PM patients with residual hematopoiesis and only grade 1 or 2 myelofibrosis. Seventeen patients meeting World Health Organization PM diagnostic criteria received either rIFNα-2b 500 000 to 3 million units 3 times weekly, or pegylated rIFNα-2a 45 or 90 μg weekly. International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment criteria for prognosis and response were used. Eleven patients were women and 6 were men. Their median age at diagnosis was 57 years. Eleven patients were low risk and 6 were intermediate-1 risk. Two achieved complete remission, 7 partial, 1 clinical improvement, 4 stable disease, and 3 had progressive disease. Thus, more than 80% derived clinical benefit or stability. Improvement in marrow morphology occurred in 4. Toxicity was acceptable. These results, with documented marrow reversion because of interferon treatment, warrant expanded evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. rtsilve@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandris
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins