Table 2 Combination trials of IFNα: a historical overview

From: Re-emergence of interferon-α in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia

Trial

Treatment regimen

IFNα form

n

CHR rate (%)

Survival

Kantarjian et al.20

Induction: daunorubicin+cytarabine+vincristine+prednisone

Maintenance: IFNα 3–5 MU/m2 daily

vs

matched historical control (IFNα)

Human leukocyte IFNα

32

64

NA

Projected 6-year survival rate from the start of therapy: 58%

58%

Kantarjian et al.21

IFNα 5 MU/m2 daily+low-dose cytarabine every 2 weeks until remission, then 1 week per month for maintenance

vs

historical control (IFNα)

NA

40

39

55

28

(P=0.02)

3-Year rate: 75%

48%

(P<0.01)

Hehlmann et al.23

IFNα 5 MU/m2 daily+hydroxyurea

vs

hydroxyurea

rIFNα-2a

226

308

59

32

Median survival: 64 months

53 months

(P=0.0063)

Kantarjian et al.24

IFNα 5 MU/m2 daily+low-dose cytarabine daily

vs

IFNα+intermittent low-dose cytarabine

vs

IFNα without cytarabine

NA

140

46

274

92

84

80

(P=0.01)

70% for all groups

Arthur et al.25

IFNα 9 MU daily+intermittent low-dose cytarabine

rIFNα-2a

30

93

NA

Lindauer et al.26

IFNα 5 MU daily+intermittent low-dose cytarabine

rIFNα-2b

65

60

3-Year rate: 77%

5-year rate: 55%

Guilhot et al.27

Hydroxyurea+IFNα 5 MU daily+intermittent low-dose cytarabine

vs

hydroxyurea+IFNα daily

rIFNα-2b

360

361

66

55

(P=0.003)

3-Year rate: 86%

79%

(P=0.02)

Baccarani et al.28

Hydroxyurea+IFNα 3–6 MU daily+intermittent low-dose cytarabine

vs

hydroxyurea+IFNα daily

rIFNα-2a

275

263

62

55

(NS)

5-Year rate: 68%

65%

(NS)

  1. Abbreviations: CHR, complete hematological remission; NA, not available; NS, not significant; rIFNα, recombinant interferon-α.