Intralesional Interferon-α2b Research Articles

Management of the Acute Phase of Peyronie’s Disease: a Contemporary Review

The goal of this article is to review the current management options for Peyronie’s disease (PD), focusing on the acute phase of the disease. Additionally, we aim to highlight the most recent literature on the subject. Contemporary studies suggest that there are promising novel therapies on the horizon for acute phase PD, such as topical H-100 gel and intralesional interferon-α2b and mycophenolate mofetil. Recent findings also suggest that intralesional collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) may be effective for the acute phase of PD, in addition to its conventional use in the chronic phase. A variety of treatments have been proposed for PD, with more recent literature focusing on the acute phase. Novel topical therapies are on the horizon and may show promise. External mechanical therapies have shown clinically meaningful changes. CCH may have efficacy during the acute phase of PD. Other intralesional therapies are promising but still require additional large studies to confirm efficacy. Future research on the acute phase of PD may expand treatment options and impact disease management.

Cytokine serum levels in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II-III treated with intralesional interferon-α 2b.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade II-III is being diagnosed in younger women and, because of the reproductive age range for women and the habits associated with a modern lifestyle, is now affecting a broad age range. Surgical treatment for CIN has been associated with premature amenorrhea, low birth weight, and premature labor and birth. It is therefore imperative to develop clinical treatments for CIN, such as conservative treatment with interferons. The object of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of cytokines (IFN- g, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, TGF β) in the serum of patients with an initial diagnosis of CIN II-III. Ten patients with CIN-CIN II (60%, n = 6) and CIN III (40%, n = 4), 23 to 51 years of age and who had not received any prior treatments, were evaluated. The patients were given 3 million/UI (per cm2 of colposcopic lesion) of human recombinant IFN-α 2b by intralesional administration (18 applications on alternate days). Before treatment, in the 6th, 12th, and 18th applications, blood was collected from the patients for cytokine analysis using ELISA. Half of the patients had a good pathologic response; the other half, all of whom were smokers, had therapeutic failure. The average concentration of IL-12 (pg/ml) in the serum of patients who responded well to therapy was elevated from the 12th and 18th application of IFN-α 2b compared to patients who experienced therapeutic failure: 1804.0 ± 1020 vs 391.2 ± 722.3 and 1738.0 ± 2426.0 vs 448.5 ± 407.2, respectively, P <0.05. CIN II-III treated with intralesional IFN-α 2b achieved a good response in non-smoking patients and was associated with an increase in IL-12 serum levels.

Prospective study to evaluate the clinical outcome of intralesional interferon-α2b in the management of Peyronie's disease.

Context:Interferon (IFN)-α2b in Peyronie's disease (PD).Aims:This study aims to evaluate clinical efficacy of the IFN-α2b in both subjective and objective manner for the treatment of PD and compared with previously used intralesional verapamil in terms of cost-benefit analysis.Settings and Design:Prospective study.Materials and Methods:A prospective study conducted from January 2013 to July 2016 in the Department of Urology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India. We included patients with identifiable Peyronie's plaque with or without pain, curvature ranging between 30 and 90 degrees. We excluded patients with a calcified plaque and the ventral location of the plaque, any infective foci over the penis, erectile dysfunction due to other etiologies and patients who had received previous intralesional therapy. Patients were evaluated by clinical history, physical examination including plaque location, size, consistency, and penile curvature. Patients received intralesional IFN-α2b in a dose of 3 × 106 IU. Patients completed the visual analogue pain (VAS) score for pain, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire at first visit as well as at follow-up of 1 month and 3 months.Statistical Analysis Used:Comparisons were performed using the paired Student's t-test and Chi-square tests as appropriate. Patient's objective and subjective clinical characteristics were described as a means (standard deviation).Results:We included 86 patients in this study. Patients had a mean age of 48.6 years, mean plaque volume 256 mm3, and disease duration of 15.2 years. After 1 month of treatment, there was a significant change in plaque volume 256–60.8 mm3; P < 0.01) and penile curvature 34.8–24.6°; P < 0.01). The patients reported significant improvement in pain score VAS and IIEF-5.Conclusions:IFN-α2b, as minimal invasive (intralesional) options for the treatment of PD, demonstrated significant improvement in plaque volume, penile curvature with minimal complications. Patients subjectively reported significant improvement in pain on erection and sexual activities. IFN-α2b and verapamil had an almost similar clinical outcome, but verapamil at much lower cost.

Intralesional Injection of Interferon-α2b Improves Penile Curvature in Men with Peyronie's Disease Independent of Plaque Location

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is the only FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved treatment for Peyronie's disease. However, to our knowledge collagenase clostridium histolyticum has not been studied in men with ventral plaques. Given this limitation and the paucity of literature on ventral plaque outcomes, we compared the results of Peyronie's disease treatment in men with different plaque locations treated with intralesional interferon-α2b. We retrospectively analyzed the records of men treated with intralesional interferon-α2b for Peyronie's disease at 1 institution from 2001 to 2014. The men received 2 million U interferon-α2b injected every 2 weeks for 6 to 24 treatments. All men underwent penile duplex Doppler ultrasound before and after interferon-α2b treatment. Patient characteristics, penile duplex Doppler ultrasound and objective measurements were reviewed. Patients were stratified into ventral and dorsal/lateral plaque cohorts with a positive response defined as a 20% or greater reduction in curvature. A total of 131 patients with a mean±SD age of 53.8±9.5 years underwent a median of 12 intralesional interferon-α2b injections (range 6 to 24). Mean pretreatment dorsal curvature was 42.5±18.6 degrees in group 1 of 111 men and mean ventral curvature was 44.5±21.5 degrees in group 2 of 21 men (p=0.66). Overall 91% of patients responded to therapy. No significant difference was noted between the 2 groups in response rate (54% vs 52%, p=0.92) or absolute change in curvature (mean 8.7±12.6 vs 9.3±17.7 degrees, p=0.84). Treatment with intralesional interferon-α2b provided a greater than 20% reduction in curvature in the majority of men with Peyronie's disease. This improvement was independent of plaque location.

Outcomes of Intralesional Interferon-α2B for the Treatment of Peyronie Disease

We evaluated the efficacy of intralesional interferon-α2b for Peyronie disease, reviewed the impact of the timing of therapy from disease onset and identified variables predictive of a response. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients treated with intralesional interferon-α2b from 2001 to 2012. Demographic information, disease characteristics, pretreatment and posttreatment penile duplex ultrasound findings, and objective measures were analyzed. Response was defined as a 20% or greater improvement in curvature. Statistical analysis was done to identify significant changes in variables and identify predictive factors. A total of 127 patients with a mean age of 55 years (range 25 to 76) and a mean±SD pretreatment curvature of 42.4±18.6 degrees underwent a median of 12 biweekly interferon-α2b injections (range 6 to 24). The median history of Peyronie disease was 2.0 years (range 0.5 to 23). Of the patients 54% responded to therapy with an overall mean improvement of 9.0 degrees (p<0.001). Patients with less than 30-degree curvature were most likely to experience a 20% or greater improvement with interferon-α2b (86% response, p<0.001). However, similar overall improvement in pretreatment curvature was noted in all cases. No statistically significant improvement was observed in penile vascular status or ultrasound parameters. The duration of Peyronie disease did not impact the change in curvature. Age, pretreatment curvature, vascular status, penile ultrasound findings, curvature site and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score did not predict the response to therapy. Intralesional therapy with interferon-α2b resulted in significantly improved curvature without impacting penile vascular parameters. The absolute improvement in curvature was independent of pretreatment curvature or Peyronie disease duration.

Cytokine serum levels in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II-III treated with intralesional interferon-α 2b

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade II-III is being diagnosed in younger women and, because of the reproductive age range for women and the habits associated with a modern lifestyle, is now affecting a broad age range. Surgical treatment for CIN has been associated with premature amenorrhea, low birth weight, and premature labor and birth. It is therefore imperative to develop clinical treatments for CIN, such as conservative treatment with interferons. The object of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of cytokines (IFN- g, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, TGF β) in the serum of patients with an initial diagnosis of CIN II-III. Ten patients with CIN-CIN II (60%, n = 6) and CIN III (40%, n = 4), 23 to 51 years of age and who had not received any prior treatments, were evaluated. The patients were given 3 million/UI (per cm2 of colposcopic lesion) of human recombinant IFN-α 2b by intralesional administration (18 applications on alternate days). Before treatment, in the 6th, 12th, and 18th applications, blood was collected from the patients for cytokine analysis using ELISA. Half of the patients had a good pathologic response; the other half, all of whom were smokers, had therapeutic failure. The average concentration of IL-12 (pg/ml) in the serum of patients who responded well to therapy was elevated from the 12th and 18th application of IFN-α 2b compared to patients who experienced therapeutic failure: 1804.0 ± 1020 vs 391.2 ± 722.3 and 1738.0 ± 2426.0 vs 448.5 ± 407.2, respectively, P <0.05. CIN II-III treated with intralesional IFN-α 2b achieved a good response in non-smoking patients and was associated with an increase in IL-12 serum levels.

Resolution of recurrent conjunctival papilloma after topical and intralesional interferon α2b with partial excision in a child

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that infects the epithelium of skin and mucosa. Simple treatment of conjunctival papilloma is associated with recurrences, and while most medical therapy has met with limited success, interferon alpha 2b (IFN alpha2b) may be effective. In this report, we describe a 7-year-old child with severe, recurrent conjunctival papilloma who had complete regression of the papilloma after topical and intralesional IFN alpha2b with partial excision of the lesion.

Is intralesional interferon α2b a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for Peyronie's disease?

Is intralesional interferon α2b a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for Peyronie's disease?