Systemic IFN-Alpha Treatment of Multiple Bladder Papilloma Grade I or II Patients: Pilot Study

Abstract

Bladder papillomatosis offers a good target to evaluate IFN-alpha systemic treatment. We carried out a pilot study on eight multiple bladder papilloma patients under the same treatment scheme (1 x 10(6) IU/amp. every 48 h over six months), and they were followed-up for over two years after treatment. Recurrent patients underwent a similar second treatment. IFN-alpha therapy showed the following variations of effects: total disappearance, size decrease or persistence of papillomas, neither size increase nor appearance of new ones, remarkable valuable recurrence frequency rate decrease in all cases, and recurrences with smaller papillomas. This IFN-alpha treatment scheme would be fit to carry out broader controlled studies to show frequencies of the different kinds of responses. The inclusion of a minimum (dose-frequency-period) IFN-alpha treatment period after the first six months' therapy is proposed in order to achieve total disappearance of recurrences.

Antiproliferative Effects of Interferons against Human Bladder Carcinoma Cell Lines in vitro

“…The good results reported earlier [1][2][3] were not confirmed in a recently published study by the authors of this study [4].…”

Comparison of Two Doses of lnterferon-Alpha-2b in Intravesical Prophylaxis of Superficial Bladder Tumors

“…In another study, Scorticatti et al [6] treated 8 patients with grade-1 or 2 multiple papilloma by injecting 1 MU human leukocyte-derived IFN-a intramuscularly every other day for 6 months. All 8 patients achieved PRs.…”

Interferons in the Therapy of Solid Tumors

“…IFNs have been injected intralesionally and perilesionally to circumvent this problem, with variable results. Earlier studies [78] reported response rates of up to 100%, but these have been cast in doubt by a recent randomized trial that demonstrated no benefit [79], Overall, it appears that about half of all patients treated may derive benefit from this form of therapy, many responses being durable. Side effects are generally minimal, in the form of low-grade fevers and myalgias.…”

“…In general, growth was inhibited by IFN-y and to a lesser extent by tumor necrosis factor, with a suggestion of synergy between the two agents [78,81]. Clinical trials looking at this issue are needed to further define their role in the therapy of cervical cancer.…”