Topical 1% 5-fluorouracil in ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a long-term safety study. Issue 3 (7th August 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parrozzani, Raffaele; Lazzarini, Daniela; Alemany-Rubio, Ernesto; Urban, Francesca; Midena, Edoardo
• Is Part Of: British journal of ophthalmology. Volume 95:Issue 3(2011)
• Page Start: 355
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2010-08-07
• Subjects: Ocular surface -- neoplasia -- drugs -- cornea -- conjunctiva; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2010.183244
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1161

Abstract

Abstract : Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term corneal toxicity of topical chemotherapy with 1% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as a sole or adjuvant treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Methods: Forty-one consecutive cases of OSSN were included in this prospective study. Patients underwent topical chemotherapy with 1% 5-FU four times/day for 4 weeks (one course). Adjunctive courses were repeated until clinical and cytological tumour regression. Clinical confocal microscopy was used to check for 5-FU long-term corneal toxicity. Results: Mean follow-up was 89.7±14.4 months (range 63–122 months). Twenty-two patients (53.7%) underwent topical 5-FU as a sole treatment, and 19 patients (46.3%) as adjuvant and/or debulking therapy. The mean number of 5-FU cycles was 1.9 (range 1–5 cycles). Three tumours (7.3%) treated with 5-FU alone recurred during follow-up. Recurrences were successfully treated with additional 5-FU courses. Clinical confocal microscopy showed no long-term difference between the treated eye and fellow (control) eye in: endothelial cells count, pleomorphism and polymegatism, anterior stromal keratocyte density, sub-basal nerve plexus fibre number, density, and beadings and central cornea epithelium thickness (p=NS). Conclusion: Topical 5-FU, as a sole or combined therapy, must be considered a long-term safe and effective treatment for patients affected by OSSN.