Treatment of multiple myeloma with recombinant human leukocyte A interferon.

A phase II study of recombinant human leukocyte A interferon was conducted in 64 patients with multiple myeloma in a multi-institutional cooperative trial. Partial remission was achieved in ten (21.3%) of 47 evaluable patients and minor response was observed in five (10.6%). Side effects were noted in more than two-thirds of the patients. They included fever (58%), malaise (20%), anorexia (52%), nausea and vomiting (26%), lethargy (2%), and myelosuppression (56%). An antibody to recombinant human leukocyte A interferon was detected in one of 20 patients.