TREATMENT OF PH-POSITIVE CHRONIC MYELOID-LEUKEMIA WITH ALPHA-INTERFERON (ROFERON-A) - THE ITALIAN COOPERATIVE STUDY-GROUP EXPERIENCE

This is an interim report of two National studies of human recombinant interferon-alpha2a (ROFERON-A) in Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The first study (1986-1988) enrolled 322 patients who were randomized to treatment by IFN or by hydroxyurea. Karyotypic responses were more frequent and better with IFN and as of June 1992 chronic phase duration and survival of IFN treated pts are projected to be significantly longer. The second study (1989-1991) recruited 275 pts less than 56 years old, who were given ROFERON-A for 1 year with the aim of obtaining a karyotypic response, to collect and cryopreserve the responsive marrows, and intensify treatment by high dose busulfan and melphalan followed by autologous marrow infusio