Polyethylene glycol interferon-alpha2b alone or in combination with low-dose Ara-C in patients newly diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Thirty-five patients newly diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia received pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN) alone or combined with intermittent Ara-C for a median of 6.5 months (range: 1.4-19.2). The median weekly PEG-IFN dose was 4.0 microg/kg. Complete hematologic, major and complete cytogenetic responses were observed in 73%, 32% and 14%, respectively. Extra-hematologic side-effects were frequent and 20% of patients had grade III-IV hematologic toxicity.