© 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology
Original article |
Low-dose interleukin-11 in patients with bone marrow failure: update of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience
Departments of 1 Leukemia, 2 Bone Marrow Transplantation, 3 Hematopathology and 4 Bioimmunotherapy, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
* Correspondence to: Dr R. Kurzrock, Division of Cancer Medicine, Unit 432, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Tel: +1-713-794-1226; Fax: +1-713-745-2374; Email: rkurzroc{at}mdanderson.org
Background: Recombinant interleukin (IL)-11 is a thrombopoietic growth factor. The purpose of this study was to assess the toxicity, safety and efficacy of low-dose recombinant IL-11 in patients with bone marrow failure (BMF).
Patients and methods: Patients with BMF due to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), graft failure, chemotherapy or aplastic anemia (AA) were treated. Patients were required to have a platelet count of <20 x 109/l, or a platelet count of <50 x 109/l with an absolute neutrophil count <1 x 109/l, or a hemoglobin value <10 g/dl. Treatment consisted of daily IL-11 at a dose of 10 µg/kg subcutaneously followed by a 2-week rest period. Two induction courses were given. Responders could receive maintenance therapy.
Results: Thirty-three patients (MDS, n=14; AA, n=16; prolonged thrombocytopenia following stem cell transplantation or chemotherapy, n=3) were evaluable. Their median age was 58 years (range 5–85). Three patients (9%) had poor risk cytogenetics. Nine patients (27%) responded to IL-11 (six MDS, three AA). Of these, three patients treated with IL-11 alone (n=1) or IL-11 together with other growth factors (n=2) showed multilineage recovery. The median time to response was 0.9 months (range 0.3–11). Factors associated with higher response rates in univariate analysis were age >50 years (P=0.008), diagnosis of MDS versus AA (P=0.025) and creatinine level >1 mg/dl (P=0.0004). The median response duration was 3 months (range 1.4–34.5+). Amongst responders, the median increment in platelet count was 111 x 109/l (range 43–165). The most common side-effects were grade 1–2 lower extremity edema, conjunctival injections and fatigue. Grade 3 toxicities included arrhythmia (n=1) and transient ischemic attack (n=1). Ten patients (30%) had no side-effects.
Conclusions: Low-dose IL-11 has activity in patients with BMF and is generally well tolerated.
Key words: cytokine, growth factor, proliferation, thrombocytopenia
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. Guglin, M. Aljayeh, S. Saiyad, R. Ali, and A. B. Curtis Introducing a new entity: chemotherapy-induced arrhythmia Europace, December 1, 2009; 11(12): 1579 - 1586. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. E. Berger, D. M. Christensen, P. C. Lowry, O. W. Jones, and A. L. Wiley Medical management of radiation injuries: current approaches Occup. Med., May 1, 2006; 56(3): 162 - 172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. P. Steensma and J. M. Bennett The Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Diagnosis and Treatment Mayo Clin. Proc., January 1, 2006; 81(1): 104 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|