Posters

Remission of melanoma and carcinoma in situ conjunctival with IFN-α2b: on the basis of two clinical cases

Poster Details

First Author: M.Gimeno Carrero SPAIN

Co Author(s):    I. Cañas Zamarra   M. De Uña Iglesias   B. Sarmiento Torres              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To describe the good response to topical chemotherapy with IFN-α2b in two cases of conjunctival tumors: melanoma and carcinoma in situ. Interferon is a promoter of tumor suppressor genes and downstream regulator of oncogenes, with results already described in the medical literature in this type of neoplasms.

Setting:

O clinical cases diagnosed and treated at the University Hospital 12 de October.

Methods:

Case 1: A 79-year-old woman diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma with Breslow 1.1mm and negative extension study. At first, surgical treatment with wide excision was proposed, which the family rejected. We start topical Mitomycin C treatment. Due to poor tolerance, mitomycin treatment was replaced with IFN-α2b. Case 2: A 94-year-old man with a history of trichiasis and symblepharon in the left eye who developed corneal microperforation. It was surgically treated with an amniotic membrane graft. He developed a morular conjunctival tumor compatible with carcinoma in situ. We decided to apply an expectant treatment with IFN-α2b topical.

Results:

Case 1: Marked reduction of conjunctival lesions. A small temporary pigmentation persisted, which was surgically eliminated, finally allowing curative resection, avoiding more aggressive surgeries and therefore without altering the quality of life of the patient too much. Case 2: remission of the lesion with complete flattening after three months of therapy, without recurrence after the therapeutic descent, avoiding ocular evisceration.

Conclusions:

Topical chemotherapy with IFN-α2b presents good results in ocular surface tumor lesions, with a highly efective results. This can avoid wide surgical resections (evisceration / exenteration). We highlight in our sample the healing of intraepithelial neoplasia and the spectacular reduction of melanoma.

Financial Disclosure:

None