Intralesional interferon-alpha 2b treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Ten patients with histologically proven basal cell carcinoma were treated with sublesional injections of interferon-alpha 2 b (Introna), 1.5 x 10(6) units per injection, three times per week for 3 weeks. Six of the treated lesions cleared completely without further therapy. These lesions measured less than 19 x 19 mm. There was no relapse during an observation period of up to 21 months. Non-healing tumours were large (greater than 20 x 20 mm) and two of them were of nodular type. Side effects were negligible, if present at all. Introna seems to offer a valuable alternative treatment for selected cases of basal cell carcinoma, when excision or X-ray therapy cannot be performed.