The UCLA experience with type I interferons in hairy cell leukemia.

Fifty-one patients have been entered on clinical trials of interferon in hairy cell leukemia. Hematological improvement was seen in 23 (96%) patients treated with recombinant alpha-2b-interferon, nine patients (69%) treated with lymphoblastoid alpha-N1-interferon, and, thus far, in five (71%) patients beginning therapy with recombinant beta-serine-interferon. All patients showing improvement have done so within 1 year and most within 6 months. Rapidity of response, duration of follow-up, and toxicity data are presented.