[Phase II study of recombinant leukocyte A interferon (Ro 22-8181) in skin malignant tumors]

A clinical phase II study of recombinant human leukocyte interferon A (rIFN-alpha A, Ro 22-8181) for various skin malignant tumors was jointly conducted at nine medical institutes across the country in order to study its clinical effect and side effects. Patients received Ro 22-8181 alone in doses ranging from 3 X 10(6) U/day to 50 X 10(6) U/day either by intramuscular injection or by local injection. Good response was obtained in one (4.8%) of 21 patients treated by intramuscular injection and in 26 (72.2%) of 36 patients treated by local injection. The percentage of good responses achieved by local injection for individual diseases was 55.6% (5/9) for metastatic malignant skin melanoma, 100% (11/11) for cutaneous malignant lymphoma, 100% (5/5) for extramammary Paget's disease, 75% (3/4) for intraepidermal cancer and 50% (2/4) for metastatic skin cancer. Main side effects were fever, anorexia, general fatigue, chills, nausea and vomiting. Abnormal laboratory data included leukopenia, and elevation of GOT and GPT, although their incidence was lower with local injection than with intramuscular injection. Side effects were mostly improved by reduction of the dose or discontinuation of the treatment.