Time from first IFN-α dose to first CgR.

The curve a shows the time to the first CgR, whatever the degree (from less than partial to complete, whichever came first); the median is 7 months, and almost all the patients had achieved a CgR within 1 year. The curve b shows the time to the first partial or complete CgR, whichever came first; the median is 11 months, and almost all the patients had achieved a CgR within 2 years. The curve c shows the time to the first CCgR; the median is 19 months (95% CI, 17-21), but the latest complete response was recorded after 7 years.