title: The effect of an intralesional sustained-release formulation of interferon alfa-2b on basal cell carcinomas.
abstract: Intralesional interferon alfa-2b has been proven effective in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas. Because nine injections over a 3-week period have been necessary to produce clinically significant cure rates, a sustained-release protamine zinc chelate interferon formulation has been developed. In this study, 65 basal cell carcinomas were treated in one of two dosing schedules with intralesional sustained release interferon alfa-2b (10 million IU per injection). Thirty-three patients received a single injection and 32 patients received one injection per week for 3 weeks. At study week 16, 80% of evaluable tumors treated with three injections and 52% treated with one injection were cured histologically. Two patients discontinued injections because of side effects. A sustained-release protamine zinc preparation of interferon alfa-2b shows promise as a practical, effective, and cosmetically elegant treatment for basal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perednia
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Smiles
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peets
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004954:Esthetics; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011479:Protamines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011479:Protamines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C065206:protamine zinc