Palliation by intratumoral infiltration with natural interferon-beta

Background. Curative approaches to tumor therapy have achieved greater impo rtance through new developments such as cytostatic agents and their combina tion with other therapy concepts, but for the majority of tumor patients on ly palliative therapy is possible. Size or location of tumor manifestations can result in severe discomfort for patients, in some cases even in a redu ction of functionality. Patients and Methods: For the purpose of this study , a total of 55 patients with a variety of advanced malignant diseases nonr esponding or progressive under radio- and/or chemotherapy were treated by i ntratumoral injection of natural human fibroblast interferon (nIFN-beta). n IFN-beta was administered intralesionally 3 times per week for at least 4 w eeks at doses of 2-8 MIU, depending on tumor size. Local tumor response was observed over a median follow-up period of 18 weeks. Results: In 37 patien ts (67%) a complete or partial remission of the local tumor manifestation w as achieved. Survival times of these patients were improved compared with t hose of patients without local tumor remission. 16 patients without signifi cant change of tumor volume benefited from the palliative (extensive analge sic) effect of the nIFN-beta therapy. During treatment, none of the patient s showed a progression of the locally treated tumor, even when the basic ma lignant disease progressed. The side effects of the nIFN-beta therapy were tolerable, and no patient discontinued therapy. Conclusion: From these obse rvations, intralesional nIFN-beta therapy of malignant tumors appears to be a useful palliative addition to radio- and/or chemotherapy with the aim of local control of tumor growth.