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Comparison of the Effects of Intralesional Interferon Alfa‐2a, 2b and the Combination of 2a and 2b in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Alpsoy Erkan,
Yilmaz Ertan,
Başaran Erdal,
Yazar Şahin
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1996.tb04040.x
Subject(s) - medicine , interferon alfa , gastroenterology , basal cell carcinoma , basal (medicine) , interferon , alpha interferon , basal cell , combination therapy , immunology , insulin
Interferons (IFN), especially alfa‐2a and 2b, are potent inhibitors of normal and malignant cell growth and effective choices in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the IFN alfa‐2a and 2b, and whether this effect may be increased by their combination. A total of 45 patients with histopathologically confirmed BCC were divided into three groups, equally. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were treated with intralesional IFN alfa‐2a, 2b, and the combination of 2a and 2b, respectively. Lesions were injected three times weekly in Groups 1 and 2 (total ten injections). IFN alfa‐2a and 2b were injected alternately in Group 3 (5 IFN alfa‐2a and 5 IFN alfa‐2b). Eight weeks after completion of therapy, cytologic specimens were taken, and all cases were evaluated clinically and cytologically. Ten (66.6%) patients had a complete response (CR) and 5 (33.3%) had a partial response (PR) in Group 1. Patients in Group 2 showed 10 (66.6%) CR, 4 (26.6%) PR, and 1 (6.6%) non response. In Group 3, 11 (73.3%) patients had CR and 4 (26.6%) had PR. Follow‐up periods ranged from 6–24 months, and no recurrences have been observed. These results suggest that IFN alfa‐2a, 2b, and the combination of 2a and 2b appear to be effective choices for the treatment of BCC; the effectiveness is not increased by their combination.