Therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia with recombinant interferon-gamma. Blood 1987 Oct;70(4):943-7
Date
10/01/1987Pubmed ID
3115339DOI
10.1182/blood.v70.4.943.bloodjournal704943Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0023611741 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 85 CitationsAbstract
Recently, we reported that recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) can induce hematologic remissions and cytogenetic improvement in newly diagnosed Philadelphia (Ph)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. Although IFN-gamma is a structurally distinct molecule, this agent suppresses in vitro hematopoietic progenitor cells in a fashion similar to that of IFN-alpha. Therefore, we initiated a study of rIFN-gamma at doses of 0.25 to 0.5 mg/m2/d intramuscularly in patients with Ph-positive benign-phase CML. Twenty-six of 30 patients entered in the study were evaluable. Six patients have achieved a complete hematologic response; four, a partial hematologic response. The median follow-up period of patients who are in complete remission is 7.5 months (range, 5 to 12 months). No relapses have occurred among the complete responders. So far, five patients have had cytogenetic improvement with emergence of 5% to 45% diploid cells in the bone marrow. Fever and flulike symptoms were the most common side effects, with partial tolerance often developing after about 1 week. The majority of patients tolerated therapy with minimal change in performance status. In conclusion, rIFN-gamma has demonstrated clinical activity in CML. On the basis of these observations and the in vitro synergistic growth-inhibitory effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, we have started trials of combination IFN therapy in CML patients.
Author List
Kurzrock R, Talpaz M, Kantarjian H, Walters R, Saks S, Trujillo JM, Gutterman JUAuthor
Razelle Kurzrock MD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Female
Humans
Interferon-gamma
Leukemia, Myeloid
Male
Middle Aged
Recombinant Proteins
Thrombocytosis
