[Treatment of hematological malignancies with recombinant leukocyte A interferon (rIFN-alpha A)]

Twenty-three cases of hematological malignancies (18 plasma cell neoplasm, 2 leukemia and 2 malignant lymphoma) were treated with recombinant human leukocyte interferon (rIFN-alpha A). Among plasma cell neoplasms, excellent and good responses were obtained in 1 case of IgG myeloma and 1 case of Bence-Jones myeloma respectively and fair response was obtained in 5 other cases. Response rats was 11.4%, or 38.9% if fair response was included. Partial remission was obtained in 1 case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In one of 2 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, marked reduction of peripheral leukemia cells was noted. Side effects included fever (65%), malaise (20%), nausea-anorexia (43%), leukopenia (52%) and thrombocytopenia (52%). However, all were not serious and disappeared quickly after discontinuation of rIFN-alpha A.