Intralesional recombinant interferon beta-1a effective in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, April, 2003

In this open-label, multicenter study involving 139 patients, recombinant interferon beta-1a (rIFN-B-1a) was evaluated in for response and relapse in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas. Eligible participants either had refused surgery or the location of the cancer made conventional treatment problematic. Patients were specifically excluded if they had a scleroderma form of BCC. Patients received rIFN-B-1a three times per week for three consecutive weeks. During the 3 week treatment period and the subsequent 13-week observation period, clinical response as well as adverse events was monitored. Laboratory parameters were assessed at week 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the study.

After i6 weeks, 66.9% of patients had responded (clinical and histological complete remission) to treatment with rIFN-B-1a. No difference in response could be shown in solid BCCs and other types of BCC. Also, the diameter of the tumor (ranging from 5.0 - 20 trim) did not seem to statistically affect the response rate, although there was a trend toward higher efficacy in smaller BCCs. The relapse rate within the 105.1-week follow-up period was 4.5%. All patients experienced local inflammatory symptoms, with erythema being the most commonly recorded symptom. There were no statistically significant changes in mean laboratory values during the study. A total of 32 patients experienced systemic adverse drug reactions, mostly flu-like symptoms.

This study shows that rIFN-B-1a is effective in the treatment of BCCs, and is generally well tolerated.

Kowalzick L et al. Intralesional Recombinant Interferon beta-1a in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma: Results of an Open-Label Multicenter Study. European Journal of Dermatology 2002; 12:558-61.