Results of the five randomized studies of α-interferon (IFN-α) versus single-agent conventional chemotherapy and of their meta-analysis. For cytogenetic response all the differences are significant. For survival the differences are significant with the exception of the German study (IFN-α vs hydroxyurea [HU]) (Hehlmann et al, 1994) and of the Benelux study (IFN-α vs. HU). In the Benelux study the scheduled dose of IFN-α was 3 MIU five times a week.
| . | No. of cases . | . | Major cytogenetic response . | 5-year survival . | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | IFN-α . | HU/BUS . | IFN-α MIU/day . | IFN-α . | HU/BUS . | IFN-α . | HU/BUS . |
| Abbreviations: ICSG, Italian Cooperative Study Group; CML, chronic myelogenous leukemia; HU, hydroxyurea; BUS, busulfan | |||||||
| ICSG on CML, 1994 | 218 | 94/ 10 | 5/m2 | 19% | 1% | 60% | 45% |
| Hehlmann et al, 1994 | 133 | 194/186 | 5/m2 | 6% | 1%/1% | 58% | 48%/33% |
| Allan et al, 1995 | 293 | 142/152 | 5/m2 | 10% | 2% | 50% | 32% |
| Ohnishi et al, 1995 | 85 | 0/ 85 | 5/m2 | 15% | 5% | 63% | 37% |
| Benelux Study Group, 1998 | 100 | 95/ 0 | 3 total | 16% | 2% | 54% | 54% |
| CML Trialists' Collaborative Group (Meta-analysis), 1997 | 640 | 286/345 | NR | NR | 57% | 46%/34% | |
| . | No. of cases . | . | Major cytogenetic response . | 5-year survival . | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | IFN-α . | HU/BUS . | IFN-α MIU/day . | IFN-α . | HU/BUS . | IFN-α . | HU/BUS . |
| Abbreviations: ICSG, Italian Cooperative Study Group; CML, chronic myelogenous leukemia; HU, hydroxyurea; BUS, busulfan | |||||||
| ICSG on CML, 1994 | 218 | 94/ 10 | 5/m2 | 19% | 1% | 60% | 45% |
| Hehlmann et al, 1994 | 133 | 194/186 | 5/m2 | 6% | 1%/1% | 58% | 48%/33% |
| Allan et al, 1995 | 293 | 142/152 | 5/m2 | 10% | 2% | 50% | 32% |
| Ohnishi et al, 1995 | 85 | 0/ 85 | 5/m2 | 15% | 5% | 63% | 37% |
| Benelux Study Group, 1998 | 100 | 95/ 0 | 3 total | 16% | 2% | 54% | 54% |
| CML Trialists' Collaborative Group (Meta-analysis), 1997 | 640 | 286/345 | NR | NR | 57% | 46%/34% | |