Interferon Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

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Abstract
A woman with multiple myeloma relapsed after 6 yr of satisfactory tumor control with melphalan therapy. When progression then occurred, she was given exogenous human leukocyte interferon, 3 .times. 106 reference units twice daily i.m., as the sole therapy. Side-effects of the interferon therapy consisted of fever reactions and thrombocytopenia. By 1 mo. after initiation of interferon therapy there was improvement of general health with less pain and tiredness, reduction of the M[monodonal]-component, Ig[immunoglobulin]G-.lambda., in the serum and a reduced plasma cell concentration in the bone marrow. After 5 mo. of interferon therapy tumor progression occurred despite continuous interferon treatment. At the same time, the tumor cells were less sensitive to interferon in in vitro tests than prior to interferon therapy. Interferon therapy should be given as initial treatment to a few patients with multiple myeloma in a phase I trial.