Leukocyte interferon in the Treatment of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in Second Chronic Phase

Abstract

Four patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive CML were treated with 18-42 × 10⁶ IU of purified natural leukocyte IFN-α per week, after high-dose chemotherapy for blast phase and attainment of 2nd chronic phase. the second blast phase occurred within 3 months in 3 patients, but one patient is still in second chronic phase after 22 months of treatment. Treatment consisted of interferon only during the first year, and interferon in combination with hydroxyurea during the second year. During the second year suppression of the Philadelphia chromosome was seen in one patient, with 20% Philadelphia negative bone marrow metaphases. the toxicity of purified natural leukocyte IFN-α was similar to the toxicity of recombinant IFN-α. Antibodies to IFN-α were not detected in any patient.

Key Words:

• Chronic myelogenous leukemia
• blast phase
• transformation
• interferon
• cytogenetics