Refractoriness to alpha-interferon (Intron A) in previously chemotherapy-treated patients with chronic myelocytic leukaemia.

8 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia in the chronic phase who had previously received chemotherapy were given alpha-interferon (Intron A). The Intron A was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 2 x 10(6) I.U./m2 three times a week and this was increased to 4-5 million I.U./m2 daily if no response was obtained after 6-8 months. 1 patient was Philadelphia chromosome-negative and was the only one who showed a major response to treatment. The other 7 patients never achieved haematologic remissions, or even a significant reduction in the immature blood leucocyte count or spleen size.