TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE-MYELOMA WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA - THE SCANDINAVIAN EXPERIENCE

IFN-alpha is a biologic therapeutic agent with documented antitumoural effect in multiple myeloma. 15% of previously untreated myeloma patients achieve a clinical response to IFN-alpha alone with a possible dose-response relationship. A particularly good effect is noted in IgA myelomas treated with natural IFN-alpha. A randomized study was started in April 1986 comparing melphalan/prednisone (MP) therapy with MP plus natural IFN-alpha (MP/IFN) in untreated patients with multiple myeloma stages II and III. 220 patients had entered the study by autumn 1989. An interim report is given here. The response frequency was 48% in the MP group and 66% in the MP/IFN group (P < 0.02). Stage II patients responded better to MP/IFN (76%) than to MP alone (48%) (P < 0.0 1). No significant difference was noted for stage III patients. 91% of all IgA myelomas responded to MP/IFN and 52% to MP (P < 0.01). The difference in response frequency of IgG and BJ myelomas between the two treatment groups was not statistically significant. The observation period is still too short to draw firm conclusions on survival. However. a statistically significant longer response duration time and survival from response (P < 0 .01) was noted for stage II patients.