♦Interferon-alfa-2a

(in-ter-feer’-on)

Roferon-A, rIFN-A

Pregnancy Category C

Mechanism of Action

Not clearly understood; exerts antitumor activity through an-tiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory biologic effects.

Indications

♦ Hairy cell leukemia and AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma in patients 18 years and older

♦ pH-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase with minimal pretreatment (1 year of diagnosis)

Metabolism/Excretion

Metabolized in the kidney and liver; excreted in the urine. Elimination half-life: 3.7 to 8.5 hours for IV infusion. Peak serum concentrations: 3.8 hours and 7.3 hours for IM and SQ administration, respectively.

Dosage Range

Adult

♦ Hairy cell leukemia: Induction dose is 3 million IU daily for 16 to 24 weeks injected SQ or IM. Maintenance dose is 3 million IU three times a week. Monitor patients periodically to determine response to treatment; discontinue treatment if patient has not responded within 6
months. Dosage may need to be halved or withheld with severe reactions.

♦ AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma: Induction dose is 36 million IU daily for 10 to 12 weeks injected SQ or IM. Maintenance dose is 36 million IU three times a week. Dosage may need to be halved or temporarily withheld with severe reactions. Continue treatment until there is no further evidence of tumor or discontinuation is required.

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