EFFICACY TRIAL OF TOPICALLY ADMINISTERED INTERFERON GAMMA-1-BETA GEL IN COMPARISON TO LASER TREATMENT IN CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA

Objective: Dose dependent response of cervical intraepithelial neoplas ia (GIN) to topically administered interferon (IFN) gamma was assessed and compared with conventional laser therapy. Patient and methods: 33 women were included in a randomized phase II trial which was double b linded for IFN dosages. Twenty-four patients received IFN gamma-1 beta gel and a control group of nine patients was treated with laser surge ry. 18 patients had smears suggesting CIN II and 15 patients had smear s suggesting CIN III. The response was assessed 6 months after startin g of IFN gamma-1 beta treatment or having laser surgery. Results: Topi cal IFN gamma-1 beta treatment gave a cure rate of 42% independent of IFN dosage as compared to an 89% cure rate with laser therapy (P=0.02) . Patients with CIN II responded better compared with patients with CI N III. Current smokers showed a significantly lower cure rate whereas use of oral contraceptives (OC) did not influence response. High viral load with high risk types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) was associa ted with a better response.