RESULTS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INTRALESIONAL RECOMBINANT ALPHA-INTERFERON-2A (ALPHA-IFN) PLUS 13-CIS-RETINOIC ACID (13CRA) IN THE TREATMENT OF BASAL-CELL CARCINOMAS (BCC) OF THE SKIN
- Authors:
- Published online on: December 1, 1993 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.3.6.1149
- Pages: 1149-1154
Metrics: Total
Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Abstract
In this phase II study, twenty-four patients (median age 72 years) with BCC of the skin were treated with intralesional alpha-IFN plus 13cRA. Alpha-IFN was administered intralesionally at the dose of 3x10(6) I.U. for injection, 3 times/week for 4 weeks (total dose 12x10(6) I.U./cycle); concomitantly, 13cRA was given per os at a 0.2-0.4 mg/kg/day dose. The 4-week cycles were repeated after a one week interval, in which only 13cRA was administered. Patients were evaluated after at least 2 cycles of treatment. Sixteen of the 20 assessable patients (80%) showed an objective response (OR), 12 of whom (60%) had a complete response (CR). The overall OR rate was 75% (12/16) in patients treated with 0.2 mg/kg/day of 13cRA, and 100% (4/4) in patients who received 0.4 mg/kg/day of the drug. The median response duration was 12 months (range, 6 to 20). Toxicity was mild and reversible in all cases; major side effects observed were fever, nausea, skin erythema, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesteremia. These results show the efficacy and the feasibility of alpha-IFN and 13cRA acid association in BCC treatment, with good compliance even in elderly patients; this medical approach could be a valid choice of therapy in addition to the traditional surgical modalities, as it also produces satisfactory aesthetical results.