title: Low Dose Interferon Alfa-2B for the Induction of Remission of Hairy Cell Leukemia: A Multi-institutional Study of 49 Patients.
abstract: This multicenter study reports on 49 patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) who were treated subcutaneously with alfa-2b interferon (Intron A, Schering Corporation, Kenilworth, N.J.), three times a week at a reduced dosage of 200,000 units/m(2), one-tenth the dose of the standard 2 million units/m(2). The response rate (normalized blood counts) was 22% (11 of 49); an additional 12 patients had a minor response for an overall response rate of 47% (23 of 49). When response was assessed by prior IFN therapy, no significant difference was noted. Five of 21 (24%) with no prior IFN and 6 of 28 (21%) with prior IFN therapy achieved at least a normalization of blood counts (p = 0.07). The response rate with low-dose interferon is inferior to that with standard dose interferon and should not be used for remission induction, but should be evaluated for its role in long-term maintenance of response.
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Golomb
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ratain
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fefer
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Portlock
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiavello
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.affiliation: a University of Chicago, University of Washington, University of North Carolina, Yale University, Schering Corporation (Kenilworth, N.J.),, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bonnem
keywords: Low dose Interferon Interferon-2B Hairy cell leukemia Induction of remission