title: Regression of infancy hemangiomas with recombinant IFN-alpha 2b.
abstract: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has antitumor and antiangiogenic effects. The purpose of this work was to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of infancy hemangioma and to monitor the appearance of anti-IFN antibodies in these patients. Thirty-nine children (29 girls) aged 1.5-158 months, with 19 younger than 1 year and 9 older than 5, were treated with 3 x 10(6) IU/m(2) IFN-alpha 2b, subcutaneously (s.c.) daily. Inclusion criteria were life-threatening or life-limiting hemangioma and parents' informed consent. Regression was considered if tumor size diminished by 50% or more. Of the 38 patients who completed 6 months of treatment, 27 (71.1%) had regression and 11 (28.9%) had stable disease. No patient experienced progression. Regression was more frequent (100%) among patients between 1 and 5 years old, but it was particularly important (68%) among those under 1 year old, when spontaneous regression is rare. The main side effects were the IFN-related flulike syndrome (79%), increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (28%), anorexia (19%), and mild inflammation at the injection site (19%). There was no effect on psychomotor or physical development. On the contrary, 1 patient with neurologic symptoms improved remarkably, including seizure disappearance. Eight patients developed anti-IFN-alpha 2 neutralizing antibodies, and 7 of them responded to IFN treatment. IFN-alpha 2b is a safe and efficacious treatment of infancy hemangioma. Further work should look for other treatment schedules and ways of administration and carefully monitor anti-IFN neutralizing antibodies, which does not seem to interfere with response.
authors.affiliation: Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric University Hospital, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garmendía
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borroso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longchong
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Porrero
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Saura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000628:therapy; D005834:Genital Neoplasms, Male / Q000628:therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins