[Interferon alpha in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of low malignancy]

Incidence of non Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) has been increased regularly during the last two decades. Overall survival did not progress at all during this period. According to the results of preliminary studies, alpha interferon is an attractive approach for NHL treatment. The review analyze published randomized controlled trials which tested interferon alpha either in addition with polychemotherapy or as maintenance of chemotherapy-induced response in disseminated low grade NHL. After literature search, nine studies have been included. Interpretation of results was complicated by various patient's selection criteria (age, tumoral burden, histology) and heterogeneous treatment schemes (interferon schedule and dose, chemotherapy combination). Significant overall improvement was observed in two studies while only relapse free survival and time to treatment failure were improved in seven trials, always in interferon group. Significant observed toxicities were hematologic ones and asthenia since they led either to dose adjustment or to interferon interruption. Finally, we cannot recommend interferon use out of prospective trials. Further studies are warranted to confirm overall survival benefit and to define optimal strategy to use this molecule.