INTERFERON-ALPHA FOR THE TREATMENT OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC MYELOID-LEUKEMIA

The present retrospective analysis is based on data of 213 patients wi th chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). They were treated with interferon (IFN)alpha-2C (Berofor(R)) at daily doses of 3.5 MU subcutaneously (s. c.), alone or in combination with low-dose ara-C or hydroxyurea, accor ding to four consecutive studies of the Austrian CML Study Group. Comp arisons were made between 41 patients aged greater than or equal to 60 years and 172 younger patients. The elderly patients (median: 64 year s; range: 60-73) showed similar pretreatment characteristics compared with the younger I:roup, but included a higher percentage of Sokal Sta ge three (51 vs 20%). Median observation periods were similar (38 vs 3 9 months), whereas the duration of IFN alpha treatment was shorter in the elderly group (median 57 vs 42 weeks). The rate of overall haemato logical responses (73 vs 78%) and complete haematological response (44 vs 54%), was similar in both cohorts. Differences seen in partial (5 vs 12%) and complete cytogenetic response (10 vs 13%), were not statis tically significant, but a tendency in favour of the younger cohort ha d to be noted. Summing up, in elderly patients acceptable rates of hae matological and cytogentic response can be expected after treatment wi th IFN alpha alone or in combination with LD ara-C or HU. (C) 1998 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.