ALPHA-INTERFERON AND CORTICOSTEROIDS AS INITIAL TREATMENT IN SMALL CLEAVED-CELL LYMPHOMA

Small cleaved-cell lymphoma (SCCL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of low clinical grade, highly responsive to radiation and cytotoxic therapy i n its early stages, but ultimately fatal as disease progresses and bec omes resistant to therapy. This study reports favourable results using recombinant alpha interferon (alpha IFN) and corticosteroids (CS) in five previously-untreated patients with advanced SCCL. Complete respon se (CR) was seen in three, excellent partial responses (PR) in the oth er two, with good patient tolerance, Some possible neurotoxicity was o bserved. As a strategy to minimise or delay cytotoxic exposure in thes e patients, it appears to have merit.