Subconjunctival/Perilesional Recombinant Interferon α2b for Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia: A 10-Year Review

Abstract

To evaluate the biologic effect of subconjunctival recombinant interferon α2b (IFNα2b) for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Retrospective study. Patients with primary or recurrent OSSN treated with subconjunctival injections of recombinant IFNα2b were studied retrospectively. Patients were given perilesional subconjunctival injections of 3 million international units in 0.5 ml of IFNα2b (Intron; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ) until tumor resolution. Patients were followed up clinically and photographically for evidence of tumor resolution and were monitored for evidence of tumor recurrence. The authors present a series of 15 eyes (14 patients) that were treated with perilesional, subconjunctival, recombinant IFNα2b. Clinical resolution of the tumor occurred in 13 of 15 eyes. The median time to resolution was 1.4 months (range, 0.6-5.7). In the time of follow-up after lesion resolution (median, 55 months), only 1 of the 15 eyes in the study exhibited disease recurrence, and this occurred 4 months after clinical resolution. Perilesional subconjunctival recombinant IFNα2b may be a viable medical alternative for the treatment of OSSN. Future studies will be needed to evaluate the ideal treatment regimen of IFNα2b.