Topical Interferon Alfa in the Treatment of Conjunctival Melanoma and Primary Acquired Melanoi Complex Original Reearch Article

Purpoe To report on topical interferon alfa-2b for conjunctival malignant melanoma (CMM) and primary acquired melanoi with atypia (PAM). Deign Retropective, interventional cae erie. Method Five eye of five conecutive patient with biopy-proven malignant melanoma were treated with topical interferon alfa-2b a treatment for primary or recurrent dieae. One drop of interferon alfa-2b (1 million unit/ml) wa placed into the uperior fornix four time daily for three month. Punctal plug limited ytemic aborption. The main outcome meaure wa tumor regreion by clinical examination and comparative lit-lamp photography. Reult Five conecutive patient with conjunctival melanoma (American Joint Committee on Cancer-International Union Againt Cancer tage T2 [n = 3] and T3 [n = 2]) were included. Two patient had recurrent corneal tumor, eight and 13 month after local exciion, cryotherapy, and topical mitomycin C therapy. Two month after topical interferon alfa-2b treatment, the leion regreed without ide effect. Two additional patient (who could not tolerate topical mitomycin C) were witched to topical interferon alfa-2b. They experienced tranient chemical conjunctiviti and have no ign of recurrence (mean, 15 month of follow-up). The fifth had recurrent tumor depite multiple urgerie. Thi melanoma did not repond to topical interferon alfa-2b nor did the patient tolerate treatment (keratoconjunctiviti). No ytemic ide effect were noted. Concluion We preent evidence that conjunctival and corneal melanoma regree after expoure to topical interferon alfa-2b. A larger-cale longer-term tudy mut evaluate the long-term efficacy and afety of thi therapy.