Topical interferon alpha 2b eye-drops for treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a dose comparison study

Br J Ophthalmol. 2010 May;94(5):551-4. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2008.153197. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS To compare the effectiveness and side-effect profile of two doses of interferon alpha2b (IFNalpha2b) eye-drops (1 million international units (IU)/ml versus 3 million IU/ml) in the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). METHODS Retrospective case series. RESULTS Thirty-five eyes were identified over an 11-year period (1996-2007). Twenty-one eyes (19 patients) with conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were treated with 1 million IU/ml of topical IFN-alpha2b; 12 eyes (nine patients) with CIN were treated with 3 million IU/ml. Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were treated with topical interferon, one with 1 million IU/ml and one with 3 million IU/ml. Baseline demographic information was not statistically different between the two groups. In patients with CIN, topical therapy eliminated disease in 81% of eyes in the 1 million IU/ml group versus 92%, in the 3 million IU/ml group, p=0.41. The median time to OSSN resolution was 2.8 months in the 1 million IU/ml group and 1.9 months in the 3 million IU/ml group, p=0.55. Neither eye with SCC responded to interferon therapy. Topical therapy was well tolerated. After a median follow-up of 24 months, three recurrences were seen in eyes successfully treated with topical therapy. CONCLUSION In our study, there were no significant differences between the 1 million IU/ml group and the 3 million IU/ml group for the treatment of CIN.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma in Situ / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Recombinant Proteins