M. Speletas et al., ACHIEVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF COMPLETE REMISSION IN A PATIENT WITH ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA AFTER WEEKLY ADMINISTRATION OF INTERLEUKIN-2, Haematologica, 81(4), 1996, pp. 346-348
Several groups have used high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), achieving
a significant rate of responses in patients with acute myelogenous le
ukemia (AML). These results have mainly been observed in AML patients
with limited disease (bone marrow blasts <25%), but this therapy is as
sociated with significant toxicity which is dose-related. In this repo
rt we describe a patient with AML in whom conventional chemotherapy ha
d achieved partial remission. This patient received subcutaneously int
ermediate doses of IL-2 (12x10(6)/m(2)/week) and achieved complete rem
ission which was maintained for eleven months. The side effects of IL-
2 were mild. The results of this report document the antileukemic effe
ct of IL-2 in AML with limited disease as well as the efficacy of subc
utaneous maintenance treatment for prolonged periods.