Effect of αIFN on unaggressive immunoproliferative disorders

Backgronnd. α-IFN is reported to be an effective treatment for a number of lymphoproliferative diseases. Little information is available at present on its effect in unaggressive immunoproliferative disorders. Study design and results. In a prospective non randomized study, 57 patients with IgG or IgA MGUS, smouldering myeloma or stage I MM treated with α-IFN (3 MU 3 times a week for at least 6 months) were compared to 129 untreated similar patients. Four patients in the IFN group showed a monoclonal component reduction >50% versus none in the control group, and 25% of patients suffered disease progression (MC increase > 50% and/or osteolytic lesions) in the IFN group as compared to 18% in the control group. Conclusions. α-IFN administration at the dose used is ineffective for the majority of patients with slowly proliferating immunoproliferative disorders; only a small subgroup of them may benefit from such a treatment.