ABSTRACT
Interferon-a (IFN-a) possesses antitumour activity against a number of haematologic neoplasms, including hairy cell leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, and myeloma. Although it was first introduced as a treatment for myeloma over 20 years ago,1 its place in the treatment of patients with myeloma is still not entirely defined. The controversy concerning the in vivo use of IFN-a is further emphasized by in vitro studies showing that, under various conditions, IFN-a can either stimulate or inhibit the growth and proliferation of myeloma cells.2-6
Studies assessing the value of continuing chemotherapy after patients with myeloma have attained a plateau phase have not shown any benefit on survival.7 In view of the relative lack of efficacy of chemotherapy for relapsing or refractory patients with myeloma, attempts have been made to investigate the role of biologic response modifiers in this disease.
