[A preliminary study of chemo-interferon therapy in malignant lymphoma]

Clinical studies of combination therapy with chemotherapeutic agents and interferon (IFN) were performed. Seventeen patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 2 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) were treated by combination chemotherapy (COPP or CHOP), and then received 300 X 10(4) U of alpha-IFN daily for 14 days. Complete remission was seen in 11 of 15 evaluable patients with NHL and both of 2 patients with HD. Myelosuppression such as leukopenia and thrombocytopenia was observed in half of the patients. Other side effects were fever, liver dysfunction, alopecia, and peripheral neuropathy. However, all these side effects were mild and well tolerated even in elderly patients.