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interferon-alfa
Indications:
- treatment of hepatitis B
- FDA-approved adjuvant therapy for malignant melanoma
- condyloma accuminata [3]
- laryngeal papillomatosis
- hemangioma
- Kaposi's sarcoma
- mycosis fungoides-Sezary syndrome
- Hairy cell leukemia
- multiple myeloma [3]
Contraindications:
- active autoimmune disorder
- decompensated cirrhosis
- major depression
Adverse effects:
- hypothyroidism (10%)
- heart failure from previous myocardial infarction during treatment (rare) [2]
Mechanism of action:
- IFN-alfa appears to affect the STAT1:STAT3 ratio in malignant melanoma, improving recurrence-free survival
- STAT1 is a tumor suppressor gene
- STAT3 is a mediator of tumor progression
- STAT1 increases & pSTAT3 decreases in nevi during maturation of melanocytes
Related
peginterferon alfa 2a (Pegasys)
peginterferon alfa 2b (Pegintron)
Specific
interferon [IFN]-alfa 2a (Roferon-A)
interferon [IFN]-alfa 2b (Intron A)
General
interferon [IFN]-alpha
pharmaceutical interferon
References
- Wang W et al.
STAT3 as a biomarker of progression in atypical nevi of
patients with melanoma: Dose-response effects of systemic
IFN therapy.
J Invest Dermatol 2008 Aug; 128:1997.
PMID: 18305569
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 14, 17.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2006, 2015
- Deprecated Reference