The effect of an intralesional sustained-release formulation of interferon alfa-2b on basal cell carcinomas.
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.
Edwards
L
L
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson.
Tucker
S B
SB
Perednia
D
D
Smiles
K A
KA
Taylor
E L
EL
Tanner
D J
DJ
Peets
E
E
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
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