title: Interferon alpha for the treatment of melanocytic conjunctival lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the effect of topical interferon alpha-2b therapy in the treatment of melanocytic conjunctival lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-comparative prospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with histologically proven acquired melanosis with atypia and/or conjunctival melanoma were treated with recombinant IFN alpha-2b (Intron A, Essex Pharma, Luzern, Switzerland). The agent was diluted under sterile conditions to one million international units per ml Intron A and packed in single-dose units (EDO) by the pharmacy. It was stored in the refrigerator and applied 5 x 1 drop/day topically by the patient for 6 weeks. The patients were seen after 2 weeks and after the end of the treatment. Endpoint of the treatment was the complete regression of pigmentation or absence of cytological atypia in a re-biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven lesions of nine patients showed regression and lost pigmentation. Three patients required a second cycle after the first therapy because of incomplete regression and one patient needed a third cycle of interferon. Only one of the patients needed a fourth cycle of therapy and additional surgery to show stable regression. The follow-up is 24.8 months (median). No local or systemic side-effects were encountered. The pre- and post-treatment photos of two cases will be presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations suggest that topical interferon alpha-2b might be an effective agent for the adjuvant treatment of melanocytic conjunctival tumors without side-effects. It might be an alternative to other more toxic chemotherapeutical agents. A prospective multicenter study will help to finally evaluate the potential of topical interferon therapy for melanocytic conjunctival tumors, in particular PAM with atypia and minimal invasive conjunctival melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Mathildenstr. 8, 80336 Munich, Germany. Tina.Herold@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Tina Rike
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hintschich
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008548:Melanosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins