title: Long-term effect of interferon-α combined with homoharringtonine on chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase.
abstract: To evaluate the efficacy of interferon-α (IFN-α) combined with homoharringtonine (HHT) in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), an IFN-α combined with HHT scheme was used as induction and maintenance therapy for 42 patients with CML in chronic phase. Thirty-five patients treated with IFN-α alone were used as the control group. It was found that the cytogenetic response rate and estimated 2-year survival rate were higher in the IFN-α + HHT group than in the IFN-α group (52.4% vs. 28.6% and 90% vs. 73%, respectively). No grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity, severe infections, hemorrhage or non-hematological adverse reactions were observed. From this research it can be concluded that an IFN-α combined with HHT scheme is safe and effective for CML induction and long-term maintenance therapy. It may be a good choice for patients with CML who cannot accept a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and imatinib or who fail IFN-α therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, P R China.
authors.forename: Jiabing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Banhe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006248:Harringtonines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077863:Homoharringtonine; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015466:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006248:Harringtonines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000077863:Homoharringtonine