Interferon-α in the Treatment of CML: Comparison of Busulfan versus Hydroxyurea versus Interferon-α

Hehlmann, R.; Bergmann, Lars; Heimpel, Hermann; Kolb, H. J.; Heinze, B; Hochhaus, Andreas; Grießhammer, Martin; Pralle, H.; Queißer, W.; Essers, U.; Falge, Christiane; Queisser, U.; Meyer, Paul N.; Schmitz, N.; Verpoort, Kirsten N; Walther, Frank; Westerhausen, M.; Kleeberg, Ulrich R.; Heilein, A.; Kabisch, Andreas; Nerl, Christoph; Barz, Christoph; Zimmermann, R.; Meuret, G.; Thewis, André; Berdel, W.E.; Tigges, F. J.; Eimermacher, Hartmut; Schmid, L; Zankovich, R; Thiele, Jüergen; Löffler, H; Wussow, P. v.; Buhr, T.; Georgii, A.; Hossfeld, D. K.; Ansari, Hassan; Hasford, Jörg

doi:10.1159/000422807

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“…In treatment of CML, it has been shown that the average IFN dose required to maintain hematologic remission declined over time. 45 The decrease of the IFN doses in the well-responding ET patients shows that, as in CML,45 the response to IFN seems to influence the required dose in ET as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Interferon-alpha in the Treatment of Essential Thrombocythemia

Lengfelder

Grießhammer²,

Hehlmann

1996

Leukemia & Lymphoma

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Interferon alpha (IFN) inhibits the growth of megakaryocytic progenitors in normal hematopoiesis and in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) leading to a reduction of peripheral platelet counts. The effectiveness in the induction therapy of patients with ET is demonstrated in 11 international studies including 212 patients. With an average dose of about 3 mill IU IFN daily, the response rate was about 90%. Further studies investigated the practicability and the success of IFN maintenance therapy. The results show that IFN can effectively control platelet counts over a period of several years. During maintenance the IFN dose could be reduced in the majority of patients. However, sustained unmaintained complete remissions were obtained in only 12% of the patients. Side effects were frequently the limiting factors in treatment with IFN especially in older patients. Analyzing a total of 273 patients, IFN therapy was terminated in 25% against the primary treatment plan. Of the currently effective drugs in controlling the platelet counts in ET, IFN is the only antiproliferative agent with immuno-modulating properties. Thus far, no leukemogenic or significant gonadotoxic effects have been observed. In a subset of the patients off all therapy, the sustained remissions support a long-term tumor load reduction effect by IFN. Thus, IFN is a promising agent in cytoreductive treatment of ET especially in younger patients.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%