Interferon in acute myelogenous leukaemia: a preliminary report.

Interferon has been shown to have an antiproliferative effect on leukaemic blast cells in vitro [ l , 3, 41. In short-term liquid culture, 50% inhibition of growth is achieved at IFN-a concentrations of 103 units/ml using myeloblasts derived from patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) [5]. Pharmacokinetic studies in patients receiving IFN-a by continuous intravenous infusion (i.v.i) have shown that it is possible to achieve Serum concentrations of k03 units/ml at daily doses greater than 3 0 ~ 106 units/m2 [6]. A phase I1 study of IFN-a is currently in Progress at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, to determine whether an anti-proliferative effect can be demonstrated in patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia.