title: Interferon-alpha therapy for refractory kaposiform hemangioendothelioma: a single-center experience.
abstract: Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a relatively rare vascular tumor with an aggressive and infiltrating nature. Previous studies have revealed an exclusive relationship between KHE and Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon (KMP), which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. No universally accepted treatment modality exists for refractory KHE with or without KMP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) therapy for treatment of refractory KHE. Twelve consecutive patients with KHE were treated with subcutaneous injections of IFN-α after other treatments had failed. Eleven patients exhibited a reduction in tumor size of more than 50%, and the platelet count for all five patients with KMP returned to normal level after IFN-α therapy. The duration of IFN-α treatment ranged from 3 months to 9 months (mean: 6.3 months). The response time for IFN-α treatment ranged from 10 days to 5 weeks (mean: 3.6 weeks). Additionally, no severe complications, such as neurological damage or spastic diplegia, were observed in these patients. In conclusion, our study suggested that IFN-α therapy is effective and safe for refractory KHE, and IFN-α may be used as an alternative after other treatments have failed.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Hai Wei
authors: HW
authors: Wu
authors: Department of General Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Xuan
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Hai Guang
authors: HG
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Yan An
authors: YA
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Interventional Radiotherapy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Li Xin
authors: LX
authors: Su
authors: Department of Interventional Radiotherapy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Xin Dong
authors: XD
authors: Fan
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors: Jia Wei
authors: JW
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059885:Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha