1. ¹Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
2. ²Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
3. ³Children's Hospital of Austin, Austin, TX, USA
4. ⁴Texas Transplant Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA

Correspondence: Dr KW Chan, Texas Transplant Institute, 8201 Ewing Halsell, Suite 280, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. E-mail: kawah.chan@mhshealth.com

Received 18 April 2006; Revised 9 June 2006; Accepted 15 June 2006.

Abstract

Thirteen children with refractory or recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) received high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT). After hematologic recovery, 10 patients were given interferon- (IFN-) as adjuvant therapy, starting at a dose of 0.5 10⁶ U/m² subcutaneously, three times a week. The dose was escalated as tolerated. Patients were treated for a median of 12 (4–24) months. Transient myelosuppression was the most common toxicity and led to temporary treatment interruption in five patients. The IFN- dose was increased in nine patients, to a median final dose of 3.5 10⁶ U/m²/week. With a median follow-up of 67 (range 25–114) months, nine of the 10 patients are alive and in continuous remission. One patient relapsed. Three patients were not treated with IFN- initially, two because of rapidly progressive disease. One patient received IFN- for treatment of relapse after transplant, and is alive in remission 10 years later. IFN- has activity in children with advanced HL, and prolonged, low-dose treatment given after ASCT can be tolerated. Its therapeutic effect as a post-transplant adjuvant warrants further investigation.