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Prophylactic use of human leukocyte interferon after allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Meyers, JD; Flournoy, N; Sanders, JE; McGuffin, RW; Newton, BA; Fisher, LD; Lum, LG; Appelbaum, FR; Doney, K; Sullivan, KM
Published in: Ann Intern Med
December 1987

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of prophylactic interferon for prevention of cytomegalovirus infection and relapse of leukemia after allogeneic marrow transplantation. DESIGN: Randomized trial with intermittent interferon administration to day 80 after transplantation. SETTING: Marrow transplantation units of a cancer research center. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia in remission at the time of transplantation. Thirty-nine patients received interferon, and 40 were control patients. INTERVENTIONS: Partially purified human leukocyte interferon given every 3 days beginning after marrow engraftment and continuing to day 80 after transplantation. After initial safety testing, the starting and minimum dose was 6 X 10(4) units/kg of body weight, with dose escalations determined by the circulating neutrophil count. Transplant conditioning and post-transplantation prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease with methotrexate followed standard procedures. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No difference was observed in the probability or severity of cytomegalovirus infection or in the probability or severity of graft-versus-host disease. Relapse of leukemia occurred in 9 interferon recipients and 21 control patients, with a minimum follow-up of 4 years among surviving patients. The probability of relapse among all interferon recipients was 0.36 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 0.56 to 0.17) and among all control patients was 0.74 (95% Cl, 0.91 to 0.58) (p = 0.04 by log-rank test). Among patients who received transplants in first or second remission, the probability of relapse among interferon recipients was 0.19 (95% Cl, 0.37 to 0.02) compared with 0.71 (95% Cl, 0.97 to 0.51) among control patients (p = 0.008 by log-rank test). Survival rates did not differ between interferon recipients and control patients. Transient decreases in leukocyte count and anorexia and nausea occurred among interferon recipients. Six interferon recipients, all of whom had received chemoradiotherapy of the central nervous system before transplantation, developed leukoencephalopathy after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that interferon given after transplantation reduces the risk for subsequent relapse of leukemia. The effect of longer administration and of administration in patients with other underlying diseases will require additional trials. No effect was observed on cytomegalovirus infection, either because interferon was not initiated until a median of 18 days after transplantation or because of a lesser effect among marrow allograft recipients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ann Intern Med

DOI

ISSN

0003-4819

Publication Date

December 1987

Volume

107

Issue

6

Start / End Page

809 / 816

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Recurrence
  • Random Allocation
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Male
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid
  • Interferon Type I
  • Humans
  • Graft vs Host Disease
  • General & Internal Medicine
 

Citation

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MLA
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Meyers, J. D., Flournoy, N., Sanders, J. E., McGuffin, R. W., Newton, B. A., Fisher, L. D., … Sullivan, K. M. (1987). Prophylactic use of human leukocyte interferon after allogeneic marrow transplantation. Ann Intern Med, 107(6), 809–816. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-107-6-809
Meyers, J. D., N. Flournoy, J. E. Sanders, R. W. McGuffin, B. A. Newton, L. D. Fisher, L. G. Lum, F. R. Appelbaum, K. Doney, and K. M. Sullivan. “Prophylactic use of human leukocyte interferon after allogeneic marrow transplantation.Ann Intern Med 107, no. 6 (December 1987): 809–16. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-107-6-809.
Meyers JD, Flournoy N, Sanders JE, McGuffin RW, Newton BA, Fisher LD, et al. Prophylactic use of human leukocyte interferon after allogeneic marrow transplantation. Ann Intern Med. 1987 Dec;107(6):809–16.
Meyers, J. D., et al. “Prophylactic use of human leukocyte interferon after allogeneic marrow transplantation.Ann Intern Med, vol. 107, no. 6, Dec. 1987, pp. 809–16. Pubmed, doi:10.7326/0003-4819-107-6-809.
Meyers JD, Flournoy N, Sanders JE, McGuffin RW, Newton BA, Fisher LD, Lum LG, Appelbaum FR, Doney K, Sullivan KM. Prophylactic use of human leukocyte interferon after allogeneic marrow transplantation. Ann Intern Med. 1987 Dec;107(6):809–816.

Published In

Ann Intern Med

DOI

ISSN

0003-4819

Publication Date

December 1987

Volume

107

Issue

6

Start / End Page

809 / 816

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Recurrence
  • Random Allocation
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Male
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid
  • Interferon Type I
  • Humans
  • Graft vs Host Disease
  • General & Internal Medicine