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  • Title: PEG-IFN-alpha-2b therapy in BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative disorders: final result of a phase 2 study.
    Author: Jabbour E, Kantarjian H, Cortes J, Thomas D, Garcia-Manero G, Ferrajoli A, Faderl S, Richie MA, Beran M, Giles F, Verstovsek S.
    Journal: Cancer; 2007 Nov 01; 110(9):2012-8. PubMed ID: 17849460.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has shown significant activity in the treatment of BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs), particularly essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV). PEG-IFN-alpha-2b is a pegylated IFN-alpha-2b with a significant advantage over nonpegylated form in that it is administered once a week. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with BCR-ABL-negative MPDs were treated with PEG-IFN-alpha-2b, given subcutaneously weekly, at the starting dose of 3 microg/kg/wk for the first 14 patients and then 2 microg/kg/wk for the next 24 patients, with intent to treat patients as long as they benefited from the therapy. RESULTS: Median age was 54 years. Patient diagnoses were: 13 (34%) ET; 11 (29%) primary myelofibrosis (PMF); 5 (13%) BCR-ABL-negative chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); 4 (10.5%) hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES); 4 (10.5%) PV; and 1 (3%) unclassified myeloproliferative disease (uMPD). Recorded grade 3-4 toxicities were related to fatigue, myelosuppression, and musculoskeletal pain. Ten (26%) patients stopped treatment because of toxicity. Thirteen (34%) patients achieved a complete remission, and 4 (11%) achieved a partial response. Only 1 patient with PMF responded. Median time to response was 5 months. Median duration of response was 20 months. Three patients had a sustained response for >24 months. CONCLUSIONS: PEG-IFN-alpha-2b, with proper dose modifications, is effective in controlling disease in a significant proportion of BCR-ABL-negative MPD patients, particularly ET and PV. However, toxicities encountered with PEG-IFN-alpha-2b therapy are similar to those obtained with conventional IFN-alpha, thus limiting the duration of therapy.
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