title: Treatment of superficial bladder tumors with intravesical recombinant interferon alpha-2a.
abstract: In a prospective study, the toxicity and efficacy of an instillation therapy with recombinant interferon alpha-2a (rIFN-alpha-2a) were evaluated in 12 patients with superficial bladder tumors. Treatment consisted of 8 weekly instillations of 54 X 10(6) IU rIFN-alpha-2a in 50 ml saline. Two weeks after completion of the instillation therapy, the tumor status was assessed with cystoscopy, biopsy and bladder wash-out cytology. Two partial responses, 1 no change and 2 progressive disease were seen in the 5 patients with TA tumors. In the 4 patients with carcinoma in situ, 1 complete response, 1 partial response and 2 no change were observed. Three patients suffered from carcinoma in situ and superficial papillary tumors, 1 showed complete response of the carcinoma in situ but no change of the TA tumor, the other 2 patients showed progressive disease. Three patients with partial response received a follow-up combination therapy with interferon intravesically and etretinate orally (25 mg/day). These patients presented progressive disease or no change 10 weeks after starting the follow-up combination therapy. During the treatment period, no side effects of interferon or changes of the serum interferon levels were observed. The treatment results are considered unsatisfactory; nevertheless, some activity after intravesical administration of interferon (mainly in patients with carcinoma in situ) could be demonstrated. Since the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects seem to be dose-dependent, further studies might be done using higher interferon dosages and shorter treatment intervals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Studer
mesh_terms: D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000628:therapy*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins