Does interferon have still a role in haematology?

Interferon alpha has been investigated in haematology since the end of the 60's. It may be prescribed in various indications but the availability of the recently developed targeted therapies makes necessary to reassess these indications by a literature review. In patients with follicular lymphoma, interferon, combined or not with rituximab, is a first-line treatment given for its immuno-modulator activity. However, it has been shown to be poorly tolerated, which limits its use. In virus-related low-grade lymphomas, interferon combined with antiviral drugs is still of interest. In T-cell lymphomas, the lack of therapeutic consensus makes interferon an option as second- or third-line treatment. In chronic myeloid leukaemia, it has been replaced by imatinib for induction therapy, but ongoing trials assess its efficacy as maintenance treatment. In conclusion, the indications for interferon decrease gradually in haematology but new options may emerge, especially in leukaemia.