EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERFERON ALFA-2A COMBINED WITH PHOTOTHERAPY FOR MYCOSIS-FUNGOIDES AND THE SEZARY-SYNDROME

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of combined topical therapy and s ystemic interferon alfa-2a in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and the Sezary syndrome (SS). Patients and Methods: Between December 1987 and April 1993, 39 patients with all stages of MF and SS were treated with combined phototherapy and systemic interferon alfa-2a as port of two institutional studies. The initial phase I study of 15 patients e stablished the maximum-tolerated dose of interferon and has been previ ously reported. Subsequently, 24 patients have been entered onto a pha se II trial. Long-term follow-up data are provided for both studies. R esults: The median follow-up duration for the entire cohort is 28 mont hs. Patients with all stages of disease were enrolled (stage IB, n = 1 4; IIA, n = 5; IIB, n = 6; III, n = 8; IVA, n = 5; IVB, n = 1). Thirty -four patients had received previous therapy. Overall, 36 of 39 patien ts achieved a complete response (CR; 62%) or partial response (28%) to therapy. The median response duration is 28 months (range, 1 to 64). Twenty-nine of 39 patients are alive, with a median survival duration of 62 months (range, 1 to 66). Conclusion: Interferon alfa-2a combined with phototherapy is an effective, safe, durable therapy for MF and S S. (C) 1995 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.