Whither Interferon for Myeloma and Other Hematologic Malignancies?
Authors: Raymond Alexanian, Donna Weber
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Editorials15 January 1996Whither Interferon for Myeloma and Other Hematologic Malignancies?Raymond Alexanian, MD and Donna Weber, MDRaymond Alexanian, MDUniversity of Texas Houston, TX 77030Search for more papers by this author and Donna Weber, MDUniversity of Texas Houston, TX 77030Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-124-2-199601150-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Multiple myeloma is one of the common hematologic malignancies now affecting approximately 12 500 persons in the United States each year. The number of patients with this condition continues to increase as a result of more frequent screening with electrophoresis and more diagnoses among a progressively aging population. Despite intensive study of many treatments, including those supported by stem cell transplantation, overall survival has not improved, and the disease remains incurable [1]. Accordingly, the best available strategy has been to achieve a high frequency of remission that can be sustained for several years, and then to repeatedly control relapsing disease ...References1. Alexanian R, Dimopoulos M. The treatment of multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 1994; 330:484-9. Google Scholar2. Mellstedt H, Ahre A, Bjorkholm M, Holm G, Johansson B, Strander H. Interferon therapy in myelomatosis. Lancet. 1979; 1:245-7. Google Scholar3. Quesada JR, Alexanian R, Hawkins M, Barlogie B, Borden E, Itri L, et al. Treatment of multiple myeloma with recombinant α-interferon. Blood. 1986; 67:275-8. Google Scholar4. Cooper MR, Dear K, McIntyre OR, Ozer H, Ellerton J, Canellos G, et al. 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A comparison of polychemotherapy and melphalan/prednisone for primary remission induction, and interferon-α for maintenance treatment, in multiple myeloma. Eur J Cancer. 1995; 31A:146-51. Google Scholar12. “Interferon-α2b added to melphalan-prednisone for initial and maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma. A randomized, controlled trial. The Nordic Myeloma Study Group. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 124:212-22.” Google Scholar13. Cunningham D, Powles R, Malpas J, Milan S, Meldrum M, Viner C, et al. A randomized trial of maintenance therapy with Intron-A following high-dose melphalan and ABMT in myeloma. Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1993; 12:364. Google Scholar14. Talpaz M, Kantarjian H, McCredie K, Keating MJ, Trujillo J, Gutterman J. Clinical investigation of human α interferon in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Blood. 1987; 69:1280-8. Google Scholar15. McLaughlin P, Cabanillas F, Hagemeister FB, Swan F Jr, Romaguera JE, Taylor S, et al. CHOP-Bleo plus interferon for stage IV low-grade lymphoma. Ann Oncol. 1993; 4:205-11. Google Scholar16. O'Brien S, Kantarjian H, Beran M, Robertson LE, Koller C, Lerner S, et al. Interferon maintenance therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in remission after fludarabine therapy. Blood. 1995; 86:1296-300. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Texas Houston, TX 77030Grant Support: In part by the Robert Hompe Myeloma Research Fund.Corresponding Author: Raymond Alexanian, MD, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box 001, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Alexanian and Weber: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box 001, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoInterferon-α 2b Added to Melphalan-Prednisone for Initial and Maintenance Therapy in Multiple Myeloma Martin Hjorth , Jan Westin , Inger Marie S. Dahl , Peter Gimsing , Erik Hippe , Erik Holmberg , Jon Lamvik , Johan Lanng Nielsen , Eva Lofvenberg , Ilmari P. Palva , Stig Rodjer , Ingebrigt Talstad , Ingemar Turesson , Finn Wisloff , and Goran Zador Metrics Cited byPotent systemic therapy of multiple myeloma utilizing oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus coding for interferon-βNewly diagnosed multiple myelomaStandard-dose therapy for multiple myeloma: The Southwest Oncology Group experienceThalidomide for resistant and relapsing myeloma 15 January 1996Volume 124, Issue 2Page: 264-265KeywordsChemotherapyHematologic malignanciesInterferonsLymphomaMorbidityMultiple myelomaMyelomaStem cell transplantationSteroid therapySurvival analysis Issue Published: 15 January 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...