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Interferon gaining in treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia
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PHILADELPHIA — Topical interferon is a viable alternative treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia, a speaker said here.
"[A study] speculated that the future of therapy might be to focus on vaccines, antibiotics, antivirals and immune modulators," Carol L. Shields, MD, said at the Wills Eye Institute Annual Conference. "Well, you know what? That future is now. We’re using less and less chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical excision for ocular surface squamous neoplasia, and we’re using the top four agents, interferon being the most commonly used. It is slow, it is effective, and the toxicity is minimal. Topical interferon is our topical drug of choice."
Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is commonly attributed to ultraviolet light, human papillomavirus, dust, wind, chemicals, cigarette smoke, eczema, atopy, xeroderma pigmentosum, immune suppression, HIV, organ transplantation and chronic steroid use, Shields said.
Conventional surgical treatments for OSSN include alcohol epitheliectomy, partial lamellar scleroconjunctivectomy, cryotherapy and closure. Non-surgical methods include topical mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, interferon, cidofovir and photodynamic therapy.
A study performed at Wills Eye Institute included 83 patients with OSSN who were treated with topical interferon alpha-2b. Results showed that interferon was 83% successful as immunotherapy in 23 patients, 100% successful as immunoreduction in seven patients and 95% successful as immunosuppression in 53 patients.
Interferon was shown to shrink OSSN tumors, Shields said.
Disclosure: Shields has no relevant financial disclosures.