Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) remains the only viable alternative to bone marrow transplantation for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and is the treatment of choice in many circumstances. IFN-alpha can induce hematologic remissions in most patients with CML and suppresses the Philadelphia chromosome-positive cell clone in 30%-40% of hematologically responsive patients. IFN-alpha can also prolong the length of the chronic disease phase and survival time in patients who achieve a karyotypic response. A third of patients, however, never respond to IFN-alpha, and a proportion of the initial responders will later become resistant. It has been suggested that the induction of anti-IFN-alpha antibodies might be one of the reasons for resistance to IFN-alpha. It is difficult to evaluate the factors that influence antibody induction and the effects of these antibodies on clinical results. The source of IFN-alpha product, trial design, and differences in the sensitivity of the assays used to measure antibodies are all factors that need to be considered.
Clinical experience of antibodies to interferon-alpha during treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia
Russo, DMembro del Collaboration Group
;
1997-01-01
Abstract
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) remains the only viable alternative to bone marrow transplantation for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and is the treatment of choice in many circumstances. IFN-alpha can induce hematologic remissions in most patients with CML and suppresses the Philadelphia chromosome-positive cell clone in 30%-40% of hematologically responsive patients. IFN-alpha can also prolong the length of the chronic disease phase and survival time in patients who achieve a karyotypic response. A third of patients, however, never respond to IFN-alpha, and a proportion of the initial responders will later become resistant. It has been suggested that the induction of anti-IFN-alpha antibodies might be one of the reasons for resistance to IFN-alpha. It is difficult to evaluate the factors that influence antibody induction and the effects of these antibodies on clinical results. The source of IFN-alpha product, trial design, and differences in the sensitivity of the assays used to measure antibodies are all factors that need to be considered.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
