[Phase II study of recombinant leukocyte A interferon (Ro 22-8181) in hematological malignancies].

A Phase II study of recombinant leukocyte A interferon (rIFN-alpha A, Ro 22-8181) was performed in 121 patients with hematological malignancies at 33 institutions from July, 1982 to May, 1984. Patients received Ro 22-8181 by intramuscular injection daily for more than 4 weeks. Daily doses were escalated from 3 X 10(6) to 6X, 9X, 18X, 36X and 50X 10(6) units every 3-7 days. Among 70 evaluable cases, complete or partial responses were observed in 15 patients (21.4%). One complete and 10 partial responses (22.4%) were noted in 49 cases of multiple myeloma, 2 partial remissions (18.2%) in 11 cases of malignant lymphoma and 2 partial remissions (25.0%) in 8 cases of leukemia. Side effects included fever (57.0%), anorexia (34.2%), nausea-vomiting (22.8%), malaise (19.0%), leukopenia (44.3%), thrombocytopenia (45.6%) and increase of GOT or GPT (26.6% or 22.8%). They were all not serious and disappeared quickly after the discontinuation of Ro 22-8181.