• Intralesional interferon alfa-2b has been proven effective in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas. Because nine injections over a 3-week period have been necessary to produce clinically significant cure rates, a sustainedrelease protamine zinc chelate interferon formulation has been developed. In this study, 65 basal cell carcinomas were treated in one of two dosing schedules with intralesional sustained release interferon alfa-2b (10 million IU per injection). Thirty-three patients received a single injection and 32 patients received one injection per week for 3 weeks. At study week 16, 80% of evaluable tumors treated with three injections and 52% treated with one injection were cured histologically. Two patients discontinued injections because of side effects. A sustainedrelease protamine zinc preparation of interferon alfa-2b shows promise as a practical, effective, and cosmetically elegant treatment for basal cell carcinoma.
(Arch Dermatol. 1990;126:1029-1032)