Interferon-α after autologous stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Published in: Bone marrow transplantation (Basingstoke) Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 345 - 349
• Main Authors: PETROPOULOS, D, WORTH, L. L, MULLEN, C. A, LOCKHART, S, CHOROSZY, M, CHAN, K. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Autografts; Biological and medical sciences; Bone marrow, stem cells transplantation. Graft versus host reaction; Care and treatment; Chemotherapy; Child; Children; Diagnosis; Female; Health aspects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematopoietic stem cells; Hodgkin Disease - therapy; Hodgkin's disease; Hodgkin's lymphoma; Humans; Interferon; Interferon alpha; Interferon-alpha - adverse effects; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma; Male; Medical sciences; Methods; Myelosuppression; Patients; Pediatrics; Physiological aspects; Recurrence; Remission; Stem Cell Transplantation; Stem cells; Toxicity; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Transplantation; Transplantation, Autologous; Transplants & implants; α-Interferon; United States; Human; Pediatrics; Hematology; Alpha interferon; Stem cell; Hematopoietic cell; interferon-α; children; Hodgkin disease; Malignant hemopathy; Lymphoma; Hodgkin's lymphoma; autologous stem cell transplant; Autograft; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Graft; Advanced stage; Child
• ISSN: 0268-3369; 1476-5365
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705458

Thirteen children with refractory or recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) received high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT). After hematologic recovery, 10 patients were given interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) as adjuvant therapy, starting at a dose of 0.5 x 10(6) U/m2 subcutaneously, three times a week. The dose was escalated as tolerated. Patients were treated for a median of 12 (4-24) months. Transient myelosuppression was the most common toxicity and led to temporary treatment interruption in five patients. The IFN-alpha dose was increased in nine patients, to a median final dose of 3.5 x 10(6) U/m2/week. With a median follow-up of 67 (range 25-114) months, nine of the 10 patients are alive and in continuous remission. One patient relapsed. Three patients were not treated with IFN-alpha initially, two because of rapidly progressive disease. One patient received IFN-alpha for treatment of relapse after transplant, and is alive in remission 10 years later. IFN-alpha has activity in children with advanced HL, and prolonged, low-dose treatment given after ASCT can be tolerated. Its therapeutic effect as a post-transplant adjuvant warrants further investigation.