Human lymphoblastoid interferon treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Clinical response and prognostic parameters.

Thirty consecutive patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome were treated with intramuscular human lymphoblastoid interferon for Kaposi's sarcoma. Patients were divided into three groups receiving 7.5 million units/m2 per day, 15 million units/m2 per day, or 25 million units/m2 per day for 28 days. Because of dose-limiting toxicity in the highest dose group, all patients received between 6 and 15 million units/m2 per day. There were three partial responses and four minor responses. The responses were not dependent on drug dose, but did correlate with higher total lymphocyte and OKT4-positive lymphocyte numbers and absence of prior opportunistic infection. Patients who had endogenous acid-labile alpha-interferon prior to therapy were more likely to have progressive disease during interferon administration.