Five years follow-up of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer treated with HeberFERON

Abstract Introduction: Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common tumor. The combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma has been used as a new therapeutic opportunity to treat basal cell carcinomas and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The aim of this report is to record prospectively the recurrence and new lesions rates in patients participating in phase II clinical trials. Methods Phase II clinical trials (double-blind randomized one center study, InCarbacel-III, in patients with basal cell carcinoma; and open, non-randomized multicenter study, CECIN, in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, with the use of the combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma) were conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and the 5-year duration of clinical responses. Both studies were approved by institutional ethics committees, from the Hermanos Ameijeiras (INCARBACEL-III) and Amalia Simoni (INCARBACEL-III and CECIN) hospitals, in Havana and Camaguey respectively. All patients gave their written informed consent to participate in them. The investigational treatment was administered, peri- or intralesionally, three times per week, during 3 weeks. Clinical (RECIST 1.0) responses were evaluated three months after the end of treatment. Results The combination of IFNs in InCarbacel-III study showed the best clinical response (complete response of 64.3%, overall response of 85.7%) with the highest doses (10.5 MIU); without patient’s recurrence at 5 years follow-up (3.5 MUI and 10.5 MUI groups). The frequency of new lesions decreased in the treated patients 8 times. In the CECIN study 14 patients achieved complete response and 4 partial responses (overall response rate 67%). Up to the 5-year follow-up none of the patients with complete response had recurrence or new lesion. In both studies the cosmetic results were excellent and the reported adverse events were mostly of mild intensity. Conclusions: The use of the combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma showed efficacy in basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma promoting a long term response for at least 5 years and decreasing the rate of new lesions, safely and with excellent cosmetic effects.