Topical interferon alpha 2b eye-drops for treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a dose comparison study. Issue 5 (2nd June 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galor, A; Karp, C L; Chhabra, S; Barnes, S; Alfonso, E C
• Is Part Of: British journal of ophthalmology. Volume 94:Issue 5(2010)
• Page Start: 551
• Page End: 554
• Publication Date: 2009-06-02
• Subjects: Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2008.153197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1161

Abstract

Abstract : Background/aims: To compare the effectiveness and side-effect profile of two doses of interferon alpha2b (IFNα2b) eye-drops (1 million international units (IU)/ml versus 3 million IU/ml) in the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: Thirty-five eyes were identified over an 11-year period (1996–2007). Twenty-one eyes (19 patients) with conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were treated with 1 million IU/ml of topical IFN-α2b; 12 eyes (nine patients) with CIN were treated with 3 million IU/ml. Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were treated with topical interferon, one with 1 million IU/ml and one with 3 million IU/ml. Baseline demographic information was not statistically different between the two groups. In patients with CIN, topical therapy eliminated disease in 81% of eyes in the 1 million IU/ml group versus 92%, in the 3 million IU/ml group, p=0.41. The median time to OSSN resolution was 2.8 months in the 1 million IU/ml group and 1.9 months in the 3 million IU/ml group, p=0.55. Neither eye with SCC responded to interferon therapy. Topical therapy was well tolerated. After a median follow-up of 24 months, three recurrences were seen in eyes successfully treated with topical therapy. Conclusion: In our study, there were no significant differences between the 1 million IU/ml group and the 3 million IU/ml group for the treatment of CIN.