Intralesional interferon-α for conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: long-term results.

OBJECTIVE

To report the long-term therapeutic results for patients with conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma who were treated with intralesional injections of interferon-α (IFN-α).

DESIGN

Prospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty eyes of 16 patients with histologically proven conjunctival MALT lymphoma in the absence of systemic disease.

METHODS

Patients were given 1,500,000 international units (IU) of IFN-α (Roferon-A; Roche s.p.a., Milano, Italy) subconjunctivally inside the lesion 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. If there was even a minimal response, a further cycle of 1,000,000 IU 3 times weekly for 4 weeks was administered.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were followed up clinically using slit-lamp examination to determine evidence of tumor disappearance or recurrence. In 10 eyes, an incisional biopsy was performed 6 months after therapy to verify the histologic absence of the lesion.

RESULTS

A complete response was obtained in 15 eyes (75%) at the end of first cycle treatment, and in 5 eyes (25%) after further cycles. Seventeen eyes (85%) showed no local recurrence after a median follow-up of 65 months (range, 15-136 months). Three eyes (15%) demonstrated recurrence at variable points after treatment. One patient with stage IIA lymphoma exhibited systemic lymphoma progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Local immunotherapy with IFN-α seems to be an effective and lasting treatment method and provides an alternative to radiotherapy for conjunctival MALT lymphomas. Very few transient side effects were detected.