TREATMENT OF CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA - A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE

Patients and results: One hundred and fifty-nine patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia have been treated in six studies during 10 years at Hannover Medical School University Center. The prognosis of 111 pa tients without pretreatment has been improved compared to conventional therapy with a median survival of 5.7 years. Cytogenetic remissions h ave been induced in all studies followed for a longer time. The most p ronounced improvement of prognosis has been observed in these patients . Conclusions: Several conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the re sults of the different treatment concepts: 1. Patients with pretreatme nt have an infavourable response to interferon. 2. There is a likely e ffect of the dose of Interferon alpha on the frequency of cytogenetic remissions. 3. The combination of Interferon alpha und interferon gamm a has been toxic and ineffective in a pilot study. 4. The combination of interferon and cytosine arabinoside has a positive impact on the fr equency of cytogenetic remissions. A continuous parallel application o f both drugs seems to be most effective in this respect. An ongoing tr ial has been initiated to compare a fixed combination of Interferon al pha and cytosine arabinoside and with hydroxyurea respectively. Additi onally the feasibility of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transp lantation will be studied in patients with insufficient response to th e interferon treatment.