Maintenance treatment with recombinant interferon alfa-2b in patients with multiple myeloma responding to conventional induction chemotherapy

Article Abstract:

Interferon therapy is effective in approximately 20 percent of patients with multiple myeloma, a malignancy of plasma cells, which secrete antibodies. Previous research has reported that interferon inhibits the development of myeloma cells. To examine the effect on long-term survival, interferon was administered as maintenance therapy to 101 multiple myeloma patients after they had responded to conventional chemotherapy. Patients received chemotherapy and interferon or chemotherapy alone between April 1985 and May 1988. Preliminary results showed that patients treated with interferon after chemotherapy had prolonged response rates to treatment, compared with those who were not treated with interferon. As of December 1989, 66 patients had relapsed, 25 of 50 treated with interferon and 41 of 51 who did not receive interferon. The median response time for patients treated with chemotherapy and interferon was 26 months, compared with 14 months for those treated with chemotherapy alone. Thirty-seven of the 101 patients died, 14 who were treated with the combination regimen and 23 of the chemotherapy patients. The median survival time of the patients treated with interferon was 52 months, compared with 39 months for those who did not receive interferon. Three of 12 patients treated with large doses of interferon developed toxic reactions, and interferon treatment had to be discontinued. Toxicity was minimized with smaller doses. The results indicate that there is prolonged response time and survival in patients with multiple myeloma who have responded to initial chemotherapy, if they are treated with alpha interferon. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Evaluation, Chemotherapy, Interferon

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The threshold for prophylactic platelet transfusions in adults with acute myeloid leukemia

Article Abstract:

Physicians may be able to wait until a chemotherapy patient's blood platelet level falls to 10,000 before giving the patient a platelet transfusion. The standard level for instituting a transfusion is 20,000, but platelet transfusions are expensive and not entirely risk-free. Researchers compared the transfusion rate in 255 leukemia patients, about half of whom were given a transfusion when their platelet level fell to 20,000 and half when it fell to 10,000. The latter group received 21% fewer transfusions and were no more likely to experience bleeding or other complications of a low platelet count than the former group.

Care and treatment, Complications and side effects, Cancer patients, Blood platelets, Thrombocytopenia, Acute leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute myelocytic leukemia, Platelet transfusion

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Bortezomib or high-dose dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma

Article Abstract:

The study compared bortezomib with high-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma that had received one to three previous therapies. It is concluded that bortexomib is superior to high-dose dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have had a relapse after one to three previous therapies.

United Kingdom, Dosage and administration, Dexamethasone

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