In a prospective non-randomized study 21 patients with lower lip squam
ous cell carcinoma were treated with human natural leukocyte interfero
n (HNLI). The response rate was measured by a size reduction of more t
han 25% and was 81%. A complete response rate was considered to be a c
ure according to histopathological and clinical findings and was 48%.
The response rate of six lower lip squamous cell carcinoma cases treat
ed with recombinant interferon alpha 2c was 67% and the complete respo
nse rate was 17%. Three patients with basal cell carcinoma of the uppe
r lip were also treated with HNLI. All three patients were cured, as d
etermined by histopathological and clinical findings. These findings i
ndicate that interferon can be a useful alternative therapy for lip ca
rcinoma either with or without surgery.