Long-term follow-up of conjunctival and corneal intraepithelial neoplasia treated with topical interferon alfa-2b.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term recurrence rate (>1 year) of conjunctival and corneal intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) treated with topical interferon alfa-2b.


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Twenty-eight eyes of 26 patients from 2 institutions, treated between April 1997 and June 2005, with CIN lesions utilized topical interferon alfa-2b drops 4 times daily until clinical resolution was achieved.


METHODS
Patients' charts and clinical photographs were reviewed, and data were analyzed.


METHODS
All eyes were monitored for the possibility of recurrence with a minimum of 1-year follow-up from the time of documented clinical resolution.


RESULTS
Complete clinical resolution of the CIN lesions was achieved in 27 of the 28 eyes treated (96.4%). One of the 28 eyes treated (3.6%) had only a partial response to treatment. For the 27 eyes with complete response, resolution occurred after a median of 2.0 months (range, 10 days-15 months). Eyes were treated for a median of 3.2 months (range, 1-15). Median follow-up after clinical resolution (tumor-free period) was 42.4 months (range, 14-89). One eye of the 27 analyzed (3.7%) experienced a recurrence. Side effects of treatment were limited to mild conjunctival hyperemia and follicular conjunctivitis in 3 patients (12%). In all cases, there was total resolution of the side effects within 1 month after cessation of the medication.


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of patients with CIN lesions observed for >1 year, topical interferon alfa-2b was effective in treating lesions with minimal self-limited side effects.
Schechter
Barry A
BA
Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA.
Koreishi
Aaleya F
AF
Karp
Carol L
CL
Feuer
William
W
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins