Local chemotherapy with interferon-alpha for conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of subconjunctival interferon-alpha for the treatment of conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

DESIGN

Small, noncomparative, interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Five patients with histologically proven conjunctival MALT lymphoma were studied prospectively.

METHODS

Patients were given 1,500,000 international units (IU) of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) (Roferon-A) subconjunctivally inside the lesion, three times a week for four weeks. If there was even a minimal response, a further cycle of 1,000,000 IU three times a week for four weeks was administered. Patients received a maintenance dose of 1 million IU, every 15 days for 4 times, after clinical resolution of the lesion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were followed clinically, with slit lamp examination, for evidence of tumor disappearance or recurrence.

RESULTS

Complete response was obtained in all patients. The lesion resolved completely by the eighth week. Four patients did not show any local recurrence with a median follow-up of 21 months (12-36 months). One patient presented with a recurrence after 11 months, in association with systemic lymphoma progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Local chemotherapy with IFN-alpha seems to be an effective treatment modality, alternative to radiotherapy, for conjunctival MALT lymphomas.