[Interferon therapy of the lung and locoregional therapy in pulmology]

The constant increase of lung cancer incidence is confronted with the relatively low efficacy of drug therapy in patients with advanced stages of this disease. According to results of phase II studies interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) monotherapy used as palliative measure is ineffective in all histological types of lung cancer. However, in certain therapy settings IFN-alpha has some efficacy. In small cell lung cancer IFN-alpha therapy, when given as maintenance following chemo- and/or radiation therapy-induced remissions, has shown some clinical benefit as documented by a prolongation of remission-free intervals. In patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and especially of the squamous cell type the combination of IFN-alpha with cisplatinum achieved remissions in about 45%. The efficacy of locoregional administration, i.e. intrapleural, in patients with malignant effusions is currently under investigation.