title: Immunological evaluation of vaginal secretion in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia treated with intralesional interferon alpha-2b.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conservative treatment with intralesional interferon (IFN) is a therapeutic option for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients of childbearing age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group was made up of patients diagnosed with a high-grade lesion and treated with intralesional human recombinant IFNalpha-2b. Vaginal secretion was collected during IFNalpha-2b treatment for analysis of cytokines and viral load.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial histology diagnostic was 62.5% (n = 5) with CIN 2 and 37.5% (n = 3) with CIN 3. In terms of clinical evaluation and anatomopathology, 6.5% (n = 5) had a good clinical response, while 37.5% (n = 3) had therapeutic failure. All the patients with therapeutic failure were smokers. Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were raised at the sixth application for the patient group who failed to respond to therapy compared to the responsive group (p = 0.0357). Patients with a good response exhibited a reduction in human papillomavirus viral load (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients that had a good response had lower concentrations of inflammatory cytokines than did non-responders.
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Obstetrics, UFTM, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mardegan
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Adad
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Michelin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shimba
authors.forename: E F C
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Murta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins