Recombinant alpha-2b-interferon in therapy of previously untreated @entity5734 : long-term follow-up results of study by XXXX and @entity1778 Group B.

@entity1 @entity137 @entity5 @entity5734 @entity683 @entity1778 @entity381 @entity3043
In 1985, @entity5 and @entity1778 Group B initiated a multi-institutional study to define the role of interferon alpha in therapy of previously untreated active @entity5734 ( @entity5734 ). This is a long-term follow-up report of the study. Fifty-five evaluable @entity1 were treated with recombinant interferon-2b 2 million units/m2 subcutaneously three times a week for 1 year. Treatment was well tolerated; @entity137 mainly consisted of @entity683 and @entity3043 , both of a transient nature. Seventy-three percent of @entity1 had objective beneficial responses with 8.3 months median time to achieve at least a partial response (PR). After 1 year of therapy, the @entity1 have been observed for a median of 5 years. There was a continual trend towards relapse throughout this period but 28% have remained in remission beyond 6 years. Forty-six @entity1 (83%) are alive at 6 years. Among the 40 @entity1 who achieved at least a PR, there were 28 with @entity381 at the beginning of study: the spleen size was reduced in all with interferon alpha therapy and none required splenectomy. This study confirms the results of other investigators, and demonstrates that recombinant alpha interferon-2b is an effective agent for treatment of @entity5734 .
