Treatment of the Chronic Phase of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia with an Intermittent Schedule of Recombinant Interferon Alfa-2b and Cytarabine: Results from CALGB Study 9013

Despite nine studies reporting the results achieved when treating patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with interferon (rIFN α ) and cytarabine (araC), the optimal doses and schedule for this combination remain to be determined. Results of imatinib mesylate (STI-571) in chronic phase CML are preliminary, thus, trials of rIFN α -2b/araC in CML are of continued interest. We report the results of CALGB study 9013, providing a 10-year follow-up on 88 evaluable previously untreated patients. Cycles of therapy with rIFN α -2b and araC sufficient to cause a decline in either the white blood cell (WBC) count to