Interferon in the treatment of hairy-cell leukemia.

Abstract

The introduction of alpha interferon in 1984 initiated a new and exciting turnaround in the treatment of hairy-cell leukemia. Until that time splenectomy was the only known effective therapy for this disease. Interferon proved to benefit hairy-cell leukemia patients with active disease, whether or not they had undergone prior splenectomy. However, most interferon-induced responses were partial and were of relatively short duration. Purine analogues such as cladribine and pentostatin have since been found to be more effective than alpha interferon and, therefore, have now replaced interferon as first-line therapy for hairy-cell leukemia. At the present time, interferon has a relatively limited role in the treatment of hairy-cell leukemia and it is reserved for a group of selected patients who have failed nucleoside analogue therapy. In this chapter, we discuss the efficacy of interferon and its response duration, toxicity and possible mechanism of action in patients with hairy-cell leukemia.

• Authors: Shahid Ahmed, Kanti R Rai
• Journal: Best practice & research. Clinical haematology (Best Pract Res Clin Haematol) Vol. 16 Issue 1 Pg. 69-81 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 1521-6926 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12670466 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (adverse effects, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Leukemia, Hairy Cell (drug therapy, metabolism, mortality)
• Recombinant Proteins
• Survival Analysis
• Survival Rate
• Time Factors