Two Busulfan-Resistant Cases of CML with Good Response to α-Interferon Treatment

Abstract

The hematological effect of recombinant Interferon-alpha (r-IFN-α) was studied on two cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) with positive Philadelphia chromosome (Ph¹), which became resistant to busulfan. r-IFN-α was given daily at the dose of 1,000×10⁴ units as induction dose. Any adverse effect was not observed. The numbers of white cells and platelets gradually decreased to normal and the number of nucleated cells of bone marrow also decreased to 11.0% and 3.4% of the pretreatment levels, respectively within two months. In one patient, chromosome study revealed the appearance of Ph¹-negative clone and both patients continued hematological remission state at the maintenance dose of 300×10⁴ units, for about one year. It is suggested that r-IFN-α may delay the progress of CML to blastic transformation, even it is given in the accelerated phase.