OBJECTIVE: Intralesional injections of interferon have been reported to provide successful results in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. However, there are only a few reports describing the long-term efficacy of this therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term results of interferon alpha-2a (IFNalpha-2a) in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty dermatopathologically proven basal cell carcinoma lesions were treated with intralesional IFNalpha-2a injections three times weekly for 3 weeks. The dose per injection was 1.5 x 10(6)IU if the lesion was <2cm in diameter and 3.0 x 10(6) IU if it was >/=2cm. Eight weeks after the last injection, the lesion sites were rebiopsied and all cases were reevaluated both clinically and dermatopathologically. Patients with complete cure were followed up for 7 years to determine the long-term results. RESULTS: Eleven lesions (55%) showed complete clinical and dermatopathological remission, six lesions (30%) showed partial remission, and two lesions (10%) showed no response. One lesion (5%) increased in size during the treatment. No serious adverse effects were observed. During the follow-up period there was only one recurrence, at the fifth year. CONCLUSION: Treatment with intralesional IFNalpha-2a was shown to be an effective therapeutic option for basal cell carcinoma, with low recurrence rates in long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: Intralesional injections of interferon have been reported to provide successful results in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. However, there are only a few reports describing the long-term efficacy of this therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term results of interferon alpha-2a (IFNalpha-2a) in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty dermatopathologically proven basal cell carcinoma lesions were treated with intralesional IFNalpha-2a injections three times weekly for 3 weeks. The dose per injection was 1.5 x 10(6)IU if the lesion was <2cm in diameter and 3.0 x 10(6) IU if it was >/=2cm. Eight weeks after the last injection, the lesion sites were rebiopsied and all cases were reevaluated both clinically and dermatopathologically. Patients with complete cure were followed up for 7 years to determine the long-term results. RESULTS: Eleven lesions (55%) showed complete clinical and dermatopathological remission, six lesions (30%) showed partial remission, and two lesions (10%) showed no response. One lesion (5%) increased in size during the treatment. No serious adverse effects were observed. During the follow-up period there was only one recurrence, at the fifth year. CONCLUSION: Treatment with intralesional IFNalpha-2a was shown to be an effective therapeutic option for basal cell carcinoma, with low recurrence rates in long-term follow-up.
Authors: Gavin P Dunn; Allen T Bruce; Kathleen C F Sheehan; Vijay Shankaran; Ravindra Uppaluri; Jack D Bui; Mark S Diamond; Catherine M Koebel; Cora Arthur; J Michael White; Robert D Schreiber Journal: Nat Immunol Date: 2005-06-12 Impact factor: 25.606
Authors: Wei-Zhong Wu; Hui-Chuan Sun; Yue-Fang Shen; Jie Chen; Lu Wang; Zhao-You Tang; George Iliakis; Kang-Da Liu Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2004-12-11 Impact factor: 4.553
Authors: Zofia von Marschall; Arne Scholz; Thorsten Cramer; Georgia Schäfer; Michael Schirner; Kjell Oberg; Bertram Wiedenmann; Michael Höcker; Stefan Rosewicz Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2003-03-19 Impact factor: 13.506