[Interferon-alpha therapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has besides its known virostatic effects also differentiating, immuno-modulating, and antiproliferative effects. According to these effects the place of IFN-alpha has been tested for distinct malignant diseases. In the treatment of hematologic diseases IFN-alpha has made substantial progress in hairy-cell leukemias and for those IFN-alpha is an established indication. For other entities of low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) IFN-alpha is an effective drug, remission rates of 46% in average can be achieved. The efficiency is dependent from histologic subtype and tumor mass. The remission durations mentioned in the literature are variable, however generally not longer than with conventional treatments. Recent studies suggest, that IFN-alpha could prolong chemotherapy induced remissions.