LYMPHOBLASTOID INTERFERON IN ADVANCED BREAST-CANCER - A PHASE-II STUDY

Thirty-two metastatic breast cancer patients entered a phase II study in order to evaluate the toxicity and the clinical activity of lymphob lastoid interferon (IFN). The treatment was divided into two phases, i nduction and maintenance. During the first, patients were submitted to lymphoblastoid IFN at the dose of 3 MU die intramuscularly for 4-8 we eks; during maintenance treatment IFN was given at the same dosage, in tramuscularly, every other day until progression. Five patients with i nadequate follow-up were excluded from disease evaluation, thus 27 pat ients were evaluable for response. No complete response was observed; one patient achieved a partial response and 15 patients disease stabil ization. Median time to progression in patients with partial response or stable disease was 11 weeks (range 2-32). Five patients with soft t issue metastases were biopsied before and after 1.2 months of treatmen t in order to perform Labelling Index and hormonal receptor status det erminations. No significant modification was observed.