[Interferon-alpha therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia]

In 1983 was for the first time reported that natural interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has a cytoreductive effect when used for treatment of chronic myelogenic leukemia (CML). The following studies using natural as well as recombinant IFN-alpha preparations confirmed the high remission rates with this therapy (70% CR and more than 30% cytogenetic responses) in patients with CML. Flu-like symptoms are recorded in more than 90% of the patients in the initial therapy phase. IFN-alpha seems to have no activity in patients in accelerated phase or blast crisis. High doses of IFN, i.e. more than 4,000,000 per day, achieve high response rates. Responses correlate with risk factors. New possibilities for improvement of therapy results with IFN are the combinations of IFN with other therapy modalities or concepts such as chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation.