Combined therapy interferon and chemotherapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia

In view of the results achieved by others with interferons and also with low doses of Cytosine-arabinoside, we have treated 24 patients with IFN alpha 2a and Hydroxyurea for induction, with addition of low dose Ara-C during IFN maintenance therapy when the cytogenetic results were deemed insufficient. Complete hematological responses were obtained in 75% of the cases. Cytogenetic responses were noted in 83% of 12 previously untreated (complete or almost complete response in 3) and in 50% of previously treated patients (complete or almost complete response in 3 patients).