Neoadjuvant interferon alfa-2b treatment in a murine model for metastatic ocular melanoma: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the treatment of metastasis from uveal melanoma and to test the effect of interferon (IFN) alfa-2b in a murine model.


METHODS
The B16-LS9 tissue culture melanoma cells were inoculated into the posterior intraocular compartment of 3 groups of C57BL/6 mice. The inoculated eyes were enucleated at 9 days and the mice were euthanized at 26 days after inoculation; the site and number of metastases were determined using standard histologic techniques. Group 1 was the control group; group 2 was given 20,000 international units (IU) of IFN alfa-2b intramuscularly 12 hours before enucleation, and group 3 received daily injections of 20,000 IU of IFN alfa-2b intramuscularly starting 4 days before enucleation.


RESULTS
Pulmonary metastases were detected in 57%, 33%, and 0% of groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; hepatic micrometastases were detected only in group 1. These results showed a significant decrease in hepatic metastases in mice receiving IFN alfa-2b vs controls (P =.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with IFN alfa-2b results in decreased hepatic metastases from intraocular melanoma in a murine model. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:1085-1089
Dithmar
S
S
Rusciano
D
D
Lynn
M J
MJ
Lawson
D H
DH
Armstrong
C A
CA
Grossniklaus
H E
HE
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins