LONG-TERM ADJUVANT INTERFERON TREATMENT OF HUMAN OSTEOSARCOMA - A PILOT-STUDY

During the period from 1971 to 1990 all osteosarcoma patients referred to the Karolinska Hospital without signs of metastases received human leukocyte interferon (IFN) as adjuvant treatment. Patients referred b etween 1985 and 1990 were given more intensive human leukocyte IFN tre atment, i.e, a standard dose of 3 MU s.c. daily for 3-5 years. These 1 9 patients, all followed for 5 years, were included in a pilot study w hich entailed patients with central localization where radical surgery was not feasible, Metastases developed in 9 patients, of whom 3 had l ocal recurrences. Sixty-three percent are free of disease at 5 years. Side-effects were negligible and long-term toxicity practically non-ex istent. It is suggested that a randomized multicenter LFN trial should be instituted on patients with poor prognosis receiving chemotherapy and/or that IFN treatment should be combined with other therapeutic mo dalities-irradiation, chemotherapy or anti-angiogenic substances-in os teosarcoma.