Real-life data of adjuvant IFN-[alpha]2b and MMC in conjunctival melanocytic lesions

Abstract: Purpose
We herein compare topical interferon alpha 2b (IFN-α2b) to topical mitomycin C (MMC) in the adjuvant management after excision of primary acquired melanosis with atypia (PAM) and melanoma of the conjunctiva/cornea (CM).

Methods
We included 25 tumors from 25 patients (six with PAM and 19 with CM). After surgical excision, four patients started with adjuvant IFN-α2b (two in combination with radiotherapy), 19 with MMC, and two with radiotherapy alone. Five patients were switched from initial MMC/radiotherapy to IFN-α2b during follow-up. Efficacy was assessed via time to tumor recurrence and initial therapy response.

Results
With initial IFN-α2b, three patients (3/4, two with additional radiotherapy) showed complete remission (follow-up: 1478–1750 days) and one recurrence (1/4) was noted after 492 days. With initial MMC, no recurrence was recorded in 15 of the 19 patients (follow-up: 99–4732 days). Five patients were switched from MMC or radiotherapy to IFN-α2b: two patients showed complete remission (2/5), while another two (2/5) experienced recurrences and remained without recurrence after repeated courses of IFN-α2b (follow-up: 1798 and 1973 days). Only one patient showed incomplete response. Adverse effects were recorded in five patients, all received MMC.

Conclusion
Topical IFN-α2b (arguably together with radiotherapy) may be a viable alternative to MMC in PAM and CM. We observed fewer side effects at similar response rates. However, when response to MMC was poor, IFN-α2b may also be of limited utility

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology. - 261, 4 (2023) , 1159-1166, ISSN: 1435-702X

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2022
• Creator: Nüßle, Simone ; Auw-Hädrich, Claudia ; Jiang, Jana ; Böhringer, Daniel ; Reinhard, Thomas

Further information

• DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05832-1
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2304891
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:50 AM CEST