Local interferon therapy for lip carcinoma

Immunotherapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer: does it have a future?

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin are the most common malignancies in the white human population, accounting for greater than 95% of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). Current data show an increasing incidence of NMSC in recent decades. Although the mortality is low, this cancer group is associated with substantial morbidity. Multiple treatment modalities are available for NMSC, with surgery being a "cornerstone" of current therapy approaches. However, in patients with multiple lesions or in cases of tumors on critical locations, disfigurement and the disease recurrence may represent a serious problem associated with the surgical treatment. The purpose of this study was to review and analyze whether NMSC could represent a target for immune therapy, evaluating the aspects of the availability of tumor antigens and the existence of tumor specific immune response, including a summary of the major clinical studies dealing with immunotherapy for NMSC.

METHODS

The authors have reviewed the available medical literature on NMSC, with a focus on tumor immunology and associated abnormalities, as well as immunotherapy-based treatment trials.

RESULTS

The major advantage of NMSCs is that they arise from the skin, which makes them easily detectable and treatable. Furthermore, these tumors posses all the prerequisites, i.e., the presence of tumor-associated antigens as well as the tumor specific immune response, needed for immune intervention. This also was confirmed in various studies demonstrating clinical efficacy of cytokines and other immune response modifiers.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to clinical cure, by activating and stimulating patient's immune resources this therapeutic option may be a "silver bullet," providing a long-term protective immunity against initial tumor.

Interferon treatment of uterine cervical carcinoma: 20 years of follow-up

Twenty-seven randomized patients with biopsy proven carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated with human natural leucocytic interferon (HNLI) and followed up, while 30 randomized patients were followed up in the control group and were not treated with HNLI. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification of HNLI-treated patients was IA: 8, IB: 9, IIA and IIB: 10. FIGO classification of control non-treated patients was IA: 9, IB: 10, IIA and IIB: 12. HNLI was applied locally at 2x10(6) U daily in pessaries for 21 days before surgery. Survival analysis of the HNLI-treated patients after 240 months of observation showed that 20 patients (74.07%) out of 27 survived, and in the control group 14 patients (46.67%) out of 30 survived. Statistical difference between the HNLI-treated group and control group of patients is significant P<0.05.

Interferons in dermatology. Present-day standard

Since the first clinical trials in the early 1980s with recombinant interferon, it was possible to show for a variety of indications that cytokines, especially interferons, at certain doses and at respective intervals, when applied in combination with other pharmaceutical compounds open new powerful therapeutic possibilities. Worldwide, recombinant interferon is licensed, especially in dermato-oncology, for the indication of HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and recently for adjuvant therapy of high-risk malignant melanoma. Recombinant interferon is at present not licensed for dermatologic indication (septic granulomatosis). At the end of our century the indication spectrum for interferons as monotherapy and as combination therapy will undoubtedly be extended. Larger and controlled studies will prove the importance of interferons in dermato-oncology as well as in inflammatory and infectious dermatoses. The combination of interferons with standard therapies will surely be of the utmost importance in dermatotherapy.