Interferon and arsenic tri-oxide for T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma – pro
The prognosis of acute adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma (ATL), a malignancy related to human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is poor with a median survival time of 6 months. Encouraging results have been reported with the combination of interferon alpha (IFN-) and zidovudine (AZT.) The provider referenced a study of the combination that also included arsenic tioxide.
In regard to interferon itself, there are a number of phase II studies. There are also studies with zidovudine or arsenic tri-oxide. Arsenic has been reported to be effective by itself in T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma while interferon may be adding to virus supression.
There are a range of case reports, series and phase II studies and no current trials of this combinaiton is listed by clinicaltrials.com. I consider interferon to be suppported.
Tamura Therapeutic potential of arsenic trioxide with or without interferon- for relapsed/refractory adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
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Phase 2 study of the efficacy and safety of the combination of arsenic trioxide, interferon alpha, and zidovudine in newly diagnosed chronic adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL)Blood, June 25, 2009; 113(26): 6528 – 6532.
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