Local chemotherapy with interferon-alpha for conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of subconjunctival interferon-alpha for the treatment of conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.


METHODS
Small, noncomparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Five patients with histologically proven conjunctival MALT lymphoma were studied prospectively.


METHODS
Patients were given 1,500,000 international units (IU) of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) (Roferon-A) subconjunctivally inside the lesion, three times a week for four weeks. If there was even a minimal response, a further cycle of 1,000,000 IU three times a week for four weeks was administered. Patients received a maintenance dose of 1 million IU, every 15 days for 4 times, after clinical resolution of the lesion.


METHODS
Patients were followed clinically, with slit lamp examination, for evidence of tumor disappearance or recurrence.


RESULTS
Complete response was obtained in all patients. The lesion resolved completely by the eighth week. Four patients did not show any local recurrence with a median follow-up of 21 months (12-36 months). One patient presented with a recurrence after 11 months, in association with systemic lymphoma progression.


CONCLUSIONS
Local chemotherapy with IFN-alpha seems to be an effective treatment modality, alternative to radiotherapy, for conjunctival MALT lymphomas.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. ma.blasi@flashnet.it
M A
MA
Blasi
F
F
Gherlinzoni
G
G
Calvisi
P
P
Sasso
M
M
Tani
M
M
Cellini
E
E
Balestrazzi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins