Alpha-interferon and corticosteroids as initial treatment in small cleaved-cell lymphoma

Small cleaved-cell lymphoma (SCCL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of low clinical grade, highly responsive to radiation and cytotoxic therapy in its early stages, but ultimately fatal as disease progresses and becomes resistant to therapy. This study reports favourable results using recombinant alpha interferon (alpha IFN) and corticosteroids (CS) in five previously-untreated patients with advanced SCCL. Complete response (CR) was seen in three, excellent partial responses (PR) in the other two, with good patient tolerance. Some possible neurotoxicity was observed. As a strategy to minimise or delay cytotoxic exposure in these patients, it appears to have merit.