TREATMENT OF HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA WITH RECOMBINANT ALPHA-2 INTERFERON

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (3) , 644-648
Abstract
Nine patients with progressive hairy cell leukemia were treated with subcutaneous injections of recombinant .alpha.2 interferon (2-10 .times. 106 U/m2) 3 times weekly. Eight patients completed at least 8 weeks of treatment and were evaluable; 1 patient with refractory thrombocytopenia died of an intracerebral hemorrhage after 2 doses of interferon. Seven of 8 patients responded, with responses occurring as early as 2 wk. Four patients also had resolution of their monocytopenia. No complete responses were seen with up to 30 wk of treatment. Bone marrow biopsies demonstrated improvement in all 8 patients. No unforeseen toxicity occurred, but most patients had transient myelosuppression during the first few weeks of treatment. Recombinant .alpha.2 interferon is effective in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, with acceptable toxicity.