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Recombinant alpha-interferon as salvage therapy in multiple myeloma


P Jacobs
Ingrid M Le Roux
L Wood
HS King

Abstract

Ten patients with end-stage multiple myeloma refractory to conventional chemotherapy and hemibody irradiation received recombinant α-interferon as salvage therapy. The median duration of treatment was 8 weeks. One patient had an objective response and survived 8 months, whereas in the remaining 9 patients the disease progressed and median survival was 11,5 weeks. Side-effects were substantial and included confusion with extreme weakness, resulting in 5 patients refusing further therapy. The low response rate and the morbidity in this pilot study resulted in its discontinuation and the conclusion that recombinant α-interferon as singleagent therapy used for salvage in patients with refractory myeloma is of no value.

S Afr Med J 1989; 76: 100-102

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574