FEASIBILITY AND TOXICITY OF INTERFERON MAINTENANCE THERAPY AFTER ALLOGENEIC BMT FOR MULTIPLE-MYELOMA - A PILOT-STUDY OF THE EBMT

A pilot study was undertaken in order to determine the feasibility and toxicity of rh-alpha-2b-interferon as maintenance therapy after allog eneic BMT for multiple myeloma, The study incorporated planned dose es calation of interferon in successive patient cohorts from an initial d ose of 1 MU three times weekly to a target dose of 3 MU three times we ekly, No clinical complications were observed in five patients receivi ng a dose of 1 MU three times weekly, At a dose of 2 MU three times we ekly, one of seven patients developed acute GVHD, which was fatal, At a dose of 3 MU three times weekly, four of five patients developed acu te or chronic GVHD, and the study was therefore terminated at this poi nt, We conclude that the use of interferon in myeloma patients early a fter allogeneic BMT is associated with a significant risk of GVHD, whi ch is dose-related, and that the maximum tolerated dose in the early p ost-transplant period is 1-2 MU three times weekly.