The combination of zidovudine and interferon alpha-2B in the treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

Citation
Jd. White et al., The combination of zidovudine and interferon alpha-2B in the treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, LEUK LYMPH, 40(3-4), 2001, pp. 287-294
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Hematology,"Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA
ISSN journal
10428194 → ACNP
Volume
40
Issue
3-4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
287 - 294
Database
ISI
SICI code
1042-8194(200101)40:3-4<287:TCOZAI>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is frequently a very aggressive malign ancy with a poor survival despite aggressive multiagent chemotherapy. The c ombination of the antiretroviral drug zidovudine (AZT) and inrterferon alph a (IFN alpha) has been reported to induce remissions in patients with ATL. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical response and toxicit y following administration of a combination of IFN alpha -2b and AZT in pat ients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated ATL. Eighteen patients with ATL (chronic. crisis, acute or lymphoma type) were t reated with the combination of AZT (50 - 200 mg orally 5 times it day) and IFN alpha -2b (2.5 - 10 million units subcutaneously daily). Three patients had objective responses lasting more than one month. One pat ient had a clinical complete remission. lasting 21.6 months and two patient s had partial remissions lasting 3.7 and 26.5 months. Six patients were not considered evaluable for response due to short and/or interrupted periods of treatment. Seventeen patients have died with a median survival rime afte r initiation of therapy of 6 months. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the dose limiting toxicities. In conclusion, the response rate in this stud y was lower than noted in the two previous published series. This may be du e to the amount and type of prior treatment our patients had received.