THE ROLE OF INTERFERON IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA IN CHRONIC PHASE

Several studies have shown that interferon IFN-alpha can produce durable complete hematological remission and in some patients complete cytogenetic remission. This latter result is never achieved by standard monochemotherapy. The hematologic and cytogenetic response rates are dependent on the phase of the chronic myelogenous leukemia, the patient risk group, and the dose of IFN-alpha. The expected median survival of patients with early chronic phase is 60 months. A significant association between cytogenetic response and survival is now reported by several groups. Thus new trials are now under way in order to improve these results.