Summary
Fourteen patients with Ph'-chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in first chronic phase were treated with recombinant interferon-α2c. Interferon-α2c 5 to 10×106 units s.c. was given for 12 weeks as an induction therapy. Maintenance treatment consisted of interferon-α2c 5 × 106 units twice weekly s.c.. Two patients (14%) attained a complete clinical remission and 6 (43%) a partial remission, 3 of whom developed progressive disease during maintenance therapy. A complete disappearance of Ph'-chromosome was achieved in 1 patient. All patients had a more than 45% initial decline of the leukocyte count. Four out of ten patients with an initially enlarged spleen demonstrated reduction in spleen size. Influenza-like symptoms, anorexia, nausea, weight loss and fatigue were common side effects. Interferon-alpha is active in CML but additional clinical investigations are warranted to assess more precisely the therapeutic value of the interferons in this disease.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Castaigne S, Sigaux F, Cantell K, Falcoff E, Boiron M, Flandrin G, Degos L (1986) Interferon alpha in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. Cancer 57: 1681–84
Champlin RE, Golde DW (1985) Chronic myelogenous leukemia: recent advances. Blood 65: 1039–47
Clift RA, Thomas ED, Fefer A, Singer J, Stewart P, Deeg J, Buckner CD, Doney K, Neiman PE, Sanders J, Sullivan KM, Storb R (1982) Treatment of chronic granulocytic leukaemia in chronic phase by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Lancet II: 621–22
Foon KA, Maluish AE, Abrams PG, Whrightington S, Stevenson HC, Alarif A, Fer MF, Overton WR, Poole M, Schnipper EF, Jaffe ES, Herberman RB (1986) Recombinant leukocyte A interferon therapy for advanced hairy cell leukemia. Am J Med 80: 351–56
Gastl G, Aulitzky W, Margreiter R, Flener R, Van Camp B, Berneman Z, Peetermans M, Huber Ch (1985) Recombinant α2 interferon for induction and maintenance of remission in hairy cell leukaemia. Brit J Haematol 61: 581–82
Goldman JM, McCarthy DM, Hows JM, Catovsky D, Goolden AWG, Baughan ASJ, Worsley AM, Gordon-Smith EC, Batchelor JR, Galton DAG (1982) Marrow transplantation for patients in the chronic phase of chronic granulocytic leukaemia. Lancet II: 623–27
Goldman JM (1986) Management of chronic myeloid leukaemia. Scand J Haematol 37: 269–79
Hofmann V, Scheel A, Schwarzmeier J, Talstad I, Varini M, Kaplan S, Sauter Chr, Fehr J (1985) Wirksamkeit von Interferon-α2 (E. Coli) bei der Haarzell-Leukämie. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 115: 235–38
Hosoi T, Ozawa K, Urabe A, Takaku F (1985) Effects of recombinant interferons on the clonogenic growth of leukemic cells and normal hematopoietic progenitors. Intern J Cell Cloning 3: 304–12
Koeffler HP, Golde DW (1981) Chronic myelogenous leukemia. New concepts (two parts). N Engl J Med 304: 1201–09 and 1269–74
Niederle N, Kloke O, Doberauer C, Becher R, Beelen DW, Schmidt CG (1986) α2-Interferon: erste Behandlungsergebnisse bei der chronischen myeloischen Leukämie. Deutsche Med Wochenschr 111: 767–72
Rigby WFC, Ball ED, Guyre PM, Fanger MW (1985) The effects of recombinant-DNA-derived interferons on the growth of myeloid progenitor cells. Blood 65: 858–61
Speck B, Bortin MM, Champlin R, Goldman JM, Herzig R, McGlave PB, Messner HA, Weiner RS, Rimm AA (1984) Allogeneic marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Lancet I: 665–67
Talpaz M, McCredie KB, Mavligit GM, Gutterman JU (1983) Leukocyte interferon-induced myeloid cytoreduction in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Blood 62: 689–92
Talpaz M, McCredie K, Kantarjian H, Trujillo J, Keating M, Gutterman J (1986) Chronic myelogenous leukaemia: haematological remissions with alpha interferon. Br J Haematol 46: 87–95
Talpaz M, Kantarjian HM, McCredie K, Trujillo JM, Keating MJ, Gutterman JU (1986) Hematologic remission and cytogenetic improvement induced by recombinant human interferon alphaA in chronic myelogenous leukemia. N Engl J Med 314: 1065–69
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Werter, M., de Witte, R., Janssen, J. et al. Recombinant human interferon-alpha induced cytoreduction in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Blut 56, 209–212 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320107
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320107