title: [Two cases of conjunctival malignant melanoma treated with topical interferon alpha-2b drop as an adjuvant therapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical interferon alpha-2b (IFNalpha-2b) eye drops suppress tumor growth through the activation of host immunity on the ocular surface. Conjunctival malignant melanoma, a rare malignant tumor in Japan, develops local recurrence and lymph node metastasis. We herein report two cases with conjunctival melanoma treated with topical IFNalpha-2b eye drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case 1, a 77-year-old woman presented with temporal conjunctival pigmented nodules, simulating primary acquired melanosis (PAM) on the cornea and around the conjunctiva OD. Case 2, an 84-year-old woman, presented with nasal conjunctival pigmented nodules and PAM OD. Both patients underwent tumor excision and IFNalpha-2b drops four times per day for half a year. Histologically, the excised conjunctival nodules of both patients were diagnosed with malignant melanoma. There was no local recurrence or distant metastasis 24 months after tumor resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical IFNa-2b is a useful adjuvant treatment in patients with conjunctival malignant melanoma, following tumor resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishijima
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha