Efficacy and Safety of Pegylated Interferon Alfa in Polycythemia Vera

Summary

Interferon alfa is an effective treatment of polycythemia vera (PV), but about 20% of patients discontinue their treatment because of side effects and treatment schedule (three times per week administration). The pegylated form of interferon alfa-2a has shown a better tolerance in hepatitis patients and is administered only once a week. The purpose of this study is to determine efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of PV patients.

Timeline

Start

2004-09

Primary completion

2006-10

Completion

2008-01

Publications

• Background Berk PD, Goldberg JD, Donovan PB, Fruchtman SM, Berlin NI, Wasserman LR. Therapeutic recommendations in polycythemia vera based on Polycythemia Vera Study Group protocols. Semin Hematol. 1986 Apr;23(2):132-43.
• Background Fruchtman SM, Mack K, Kaplan ME, Peterson P, Berk PD, Wasserman LR. From efficacy to safety: a Polycythemia Vera Study group report on hydroxyurea in patients with polycythemia vera. Semin Hematol. 1997 Jan;34(1):17-23. No abstract available.
• Background Kiladjian JJ, Bernard JF, Fenaux P. Is life expectancy of polycythemia vera patients clearly different from that of the general population? Am J Med. 2005 May;118(5):565; author reply 565-6. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2004.12.026. No abstract available.
• Background Lengfelder E, Berger U, Hehlmann R. Interferon alpha in the treatment of polycythemia vera. Ann Hematol. 2000 Mar;79(3):103-9. doi: 10.1007/s002770050563.
• Background Streiff MB, Smith B, Spivak JL. The diagnosis and management of polycythemia vera in the era since the Polycythemia Vera Study Group: a survey of American Society of Hematology members' practice patterns. Blood. 2002 Feb 15;99(4):1144-9. doi: 10.1182/blood.v99.4.1144.
• Kiladjian JJ, Cassinat B, Chevret S, Turlure P, Cambier N, Roussel M, Bellucci S, Grandchamp B, Chomienne C, Fenaux P. Pegylated interferon-alfa-2a induces complete hematologic and molecular responses with low toxicity in polycythemia vera. Blood. 2008 Oct 15;112(8):3065-72. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-03-143537. Epub 2008 Jul 23.
• Kiladjian JJ, Cassinat B, Turlure P, Cambier N, Roussel M, Bellucci S, Menot ML, Massonnet G, Dutel JL, Ghomari K, Rousselot P, Grange MJ, Chait Y, Vainchenker W, Parquet N, Abdelkader-Aljassem L, Bernard JF, Rain JD, Chevret S, Chomienne C, Fenaux P. High molecular response rate of polycythemia vera patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a. Blood. 2006 Sep 15;108(6):2037-40. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-03-009860. Epub 2006 May 18.

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Indications