USE OF RECOMBINANT INTERFERON ALPHA-2A IN THE TREATMENT OF SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

In recent years, systemic and intralesional interferons (IFNs) have be en used successfully to treat a variety of skin tumours including T-ce ll lymphoma, malignant melanoma, Kaposi's sarcoma and basal cell carci noma. However, only a few studies have been reported on the use of IFN for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of this s tudy was to evaluate the efficacy of intra- and perilesionally adminis tered IFN alpha-2a on SCC. A group of 36 patients with SCC ranging in size from 1.5 to 4 cm were treated with intra- and perilesional recomb inant IFN alpha-2a, The doses varied from 1.5 to 3 X 10(6) IU, three t imes a week for periods of 4-8 weeks. Complete response (CR) was achie ved in 25 of 36 patients (69.5%), partial response in 7 patients (19.5 %) and no response in 4 patients (11%), Side-effects including fever, headache and mild fatigue were observed during the first injection in 9 patients (25%). However, they were completely reversible with the us e of paracetamol, After follow-up periods of 12-48 months (mean 30 mon ths) no recurrence was noted. The present study demonstrates that intr a- and perilesional IFN alpha-2a can be considered an effective and sa fe therapy for SCC.