Intraperitoneal recombinant interferon-alpha 2b for recurrent malignant ascites due to ovarian cancer.
Thirteen patients with malignant ascites due to recurrent ovarian cancer were treated with intraperitoneal interferon 2b (5 mu/m2 escalating to 15 mu/m2, administered twice weekly by indwelling intraperitoneal catheter). The study population included eight patients with ascites only and five patients with ascites plus tumor masses greater than 2 cm in diameter. Five of 13 responded to treatment. All the responses were seen in patients with ascites only. Although tumor mass was an important determinant of response there was also a correlation between clinical response and suppression of colony growth on soft agar after in vitro exposure of tumor cells to interferon-alpha (IFN alpha). The intraperitoneal use of IFN alpha should be explored further in tumors with a predominant intraperitoneal location and microimplantation growth pattern.
Department of Medicine Haematology/Oncology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
W R
WR
Bezwoda
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L
Seymour
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R
Dansey
D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins