16996
document
Prospective randomised study of double hemi-body irradiation with and without subsequent maintenance recombinant alpha 2b interferon on survival in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma . Immediately before first hemi-body irradiation , 59 patients with relapsed multiple myeloma were randomised to receive or not to receive subsequent alpha-2b interferon maintenance . 13 patients ( 22 % ) [ 8 of 31 ( 26 % ) controls , 5 of 28 ( 18 % ) in the interferon arm ] received single hemi-body irradiation alone due to progressive disease and/or persistent cytopoenias following the initial procedure . Mean time between upper and lower hemi-body irradiation was 69 days ( range 35-294 ) . Of 23 patients randomised to receive interferon and completing double hemi-body irradiation , 15 ( 65 % ) achieved peripheral blood counts adequate to allow interferon administration as per study criteria commencing at a mean 116 days ( 61-241 ) from time of study entry . The mean period of interferon therapy , starting at a mean 65 days ( 26-160 ) post second hemi-body irradiation , is 16.4 months ( 2-33.5 ) . There was no significant difference in median survival durations ( 10 months ) from time of initial radiotherapy between control and interferon patients .
16997
Intervention_Physical
hemi-body irradiation
16998
Intervention_Pharmacological
recombinant alpha 2b interferon
16999
Intervention_Pharmacological
alpha-2b interferon maintenance
17000
Intervention_Physical
single hemi-body irradiation alone
17001
Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon therapy
17002
Outcome_Mortality
survival
17003
Outcome_Physical
peripheral blood counts
17004
Outcome_Mortality
median survival durations
17005
Participant_Sample-size
59